Woyome’s case: Ghana’s sovereignty intact – Lawyer

A private legal practitioner, Nana Oppong, has said the decision by businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome to resort to the African Human Rights Court in Tanzania, over the GHS 51.2million saga, is a good move for Ghana as a country.

According to him, the sovereignty of Ghana has not been sullied in any way over the case.

He believed that the case, when concluded, will indicate that rights of Mr Woyome may not have been infringed upon as the state tries to retrieve the money.

Nana Oppong’s comments come on the heels of an order given to the government of Ghana to stop all processes in relation to the sale of assets of Mr Woyome as part of moves to retrieve the GHS51.2million he owes the state.

A ruling by the 11-member panel presided over by Sylvain ORE at the African Human Rights Court on November 24 indicated that it will be unfair if government is allowed to sell the properties and the case is later ruled in favour of Mr Woyome.

“The court finds that the situation raised in the present application is of extreme gravity and urgency on the basis that should the applicant’s property be attached and sold to recover the GHS51, 283, 480.59, the applicant would suffer irreparable harm if the application on the merits is decided in his favour…,” parts of the ruling stated.

Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra1005FM on Tuesday, November 28, Mr Oppong said: “In exercising his right to go and seek redress outside of our country, he hasn’t offended our sovereignty, it hasn’t offended our courts, it has offended justice. In fact, it will rather inure to Ghana’s benefit if the state wins.

“I am expecting that justice will be done in the matter. We have confidence in that court because it has a good track record.”