I don’t blame Kufuor – Woyome

Embattled businessman Alfred Woyome, who is at the centre of a GHC51.2 million judgment debt controversy, has said he will not blame former President John Kufuor, who abrogated his contract leading to the payment of the judgment debt.

According to him, the pressure that came on him to take the decision was so great that Mr Kufuor had no option than to take the decision.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday on November 18, Mr Woyome, who will be examined by former Attorney General Martin Amidu on November 24 in connection with a GHC51.2million judgment debt paid him, which the Supreme Court has ruled must be refunded to the state, said: “I don’t want to fault Mr Kufuor, I don’t want to fault him. I won’t blame him because sometimes the pressure that comes on a president is so enormous.”

Meanwhile, he has indicated that Martin Amidu “attempted to be the president” of Ghana when he met late President John Evans Atta Mills several years ago prior to his sacking.

Mr Woyome, however, did not explain what he meant when he addressed journalists at the International Press Centre in Accra on Friday, 18 November.

According to him, Mr Amidu attempted being the president as he met Prof Mills to discuss an issue regarding his (Mr Amidu’s) health. Again, Mr Woyome did not give details about what health issues he was referring to.

He said: “So he was supposed to be sacked. Immediately, Martin went out and made allegations that: ‘My colleague ministers and every other person [is] corrupt. … So the president asked him: ‘Mr Martin [Amidu], [in] seven days, give me proof of those corruption [allegations] or I sack you.’ Martin then went and hatched on Alfred Woyome, an issue which he himself is involved. And went to court… Then he started the media issues. Seven days arrived, he didn’t prove any single record, and I challenge him to bring the list of the ministers in the government of Atta Mills that were corrupt. You have never proven one, so the president of the republic sacked him. He was not sacked because there was any gargantuan anything there. It’s a lie.

“Martin has a problem. If he wants to challenge me, he should go to court immediately and we will ask the court to go to the appropriate authority so that we’ll disclose it, because I’m not going to be the one to disclose it. So Martin is being used by unseen forces as a weapon against innocent people and people who are doing very well including the president of the republic of Ghana. In fact, those using Martin [Amidu] are using him against himself … that’s why sometimes I feel restrained to sue him for defamation or anything because I understand the problem of Martin and I don’t want to go on that tangent, so, why do you use such a weapon to fight in a political season. That weapon is against himself.”

According to him, the fourth tranche of the GHC51.2million, which was paid him, was approved by Mr Amidu while he was still the Attorney General. “It was during his time that the last tranche, GHS14million, was paid. Martin Amidu should come and explain to Ghanaians why he didn’t stop it …” he dared.