MR CHARLES Kofi Wayo, the business executive and a floor member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is angry over a story published in a local newspaper, the Morning Star.
The paper alleged that Wayo has defrauded a certain Alhaji Ganda over gold transactions.
Speaking to the Daily Guide at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra last Friday, Mr Wayo took grave exception to the publication saying he’s disturbed by the deluge of false publications about him day-in day-out. According to him, he is consulting with his lawyers over the matter which he says has scandalized, ridiculed and tarnished his image and also libelled him.
He hinted that upon advice of his lawyers, he would seek legal redress to salvage his honour.
Wayo, also “Nimaboy” mentioned that he was not consulted by the paper’s editor for his reaction to the story before it went public adding “this is a bad piece of journalism”.
The Morning Star in its July 31 - August 6, 2002 edition under the title “Kofi Wayo in Big Gold Deal” stated that Mr Wayo had duped a certain Alhaji Ganda in a $10,000 gold deal. According to the paper, Mr Wayo expressed interest in buying gold with an assayed value $10,000. The paper claimed that Mr Wayo bargained for $9,000 but Alhaji Ganda refused to accept that amount.
According to the Alhaji who is quoted in the paper, Mr Wayo asked him to leave the gold with him while he held further consultations with his partners.
According to the paper, Alhaji returned later complaining that his partners did not agree to the deal and, therefore, wanted the product returned. But when it was re-weighed, its value had dropped to $3,000.
A report was made to the Greater Accra police regional command then under Mr Boachie. The paper stated that Mr Wayo then reportedly accused a young man apparently his house help of keeping the gold ore and had him arrested by the police for questioning.
He continued that after frequent discussions between the parties and interventions from Messrs Yaw Osafo Maafo and Akufo-Addo, both now Ministers for Finance and Justice and Attorney-General respectively, the case was withdrawn with Wayo having promised to pay the disputed $10,000, claimed the report.
“Until now, Charles Kofi Wayo has not honoured his promise” the Alhaji is alleged to have said according to the Morning Star.