Prosecute ‘conspirators’ who paid Woyome GH¢51.2m – Lawyer advocates

The Upper East Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Anthony Namoo has proposed the criminal prosecution of persons who played key roles and facilitated the payment of some GH¢51.2m judgement debt to businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome.

The Supreme Court in its latest ruling on the matter gave the Attorney-General the go ahead to sell properties of Mr. Woyome to defray a ¢47.2m debt owed the state.

The state retrieved ¢4m from the businessman after an earlier Supreme Court ruling in 2014 ordering him to refund the ¢51.2m judgement debt payment he received in 2009.

Though the Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has hinted of possibilities of pressing criminal charges against Alfred Agbesi Woyome for colluding with the now-defunct UT Bank in a bid to halt the sale of his assets, the NPP Regional Chairman who doubles as a private legal practitioner says the state could consider also prosecuting government officials who aided, facilitated or paid the GH¢ 51.2m to Mr. Woyome.

“For me, this ruling gives the AG the opportunity to explore other areas aside retrieving the money. For instance, what is happening to those who paid the money to Mr Woyome? The state can consider going after them for the wrong payment that was made. After all, he (Woyome) didn’t use a gun to take the money” he said in an interview on Yem Radio in Bolgatanga monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

While raising possible arguments of double jeopardy by Mr Woyome, Lawyer Namoo prevailed upon the A-G to consider taking on former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu and other officials involved.

On government’s fight against corruption, he noted that it was prudent for the state to be meticulous in its dealings and not to rush and fail.

“I don’t see why the Attorney General should take an individual to court and lose the case. So before the state takes up a case against any person, we must be sure. That’s why things seem to be delaying” he added.