A well written piece! I echo your sentiments about Martin Amidu. I appreciate his determination to make Ghana a great nation!
More grease to his elbows for caring about Ghana enough to risk his ministerial portfolio and all ... read full comment
A well written piece! I echo your sentiments about Martin Amidu. I appreciate his determination to make Ghana a great nation!
More grease to his elbows for caring about Ghana enough to risk his ministerial portfolio and all it's trappings,
Koloxoxo 10 years ago
Amidu's victory shows how inefficiency and unqualified judges at supreme court are. They are not qualified at all. if Amidu will intervene the correct their ruling. ruling that has been passed and victims acquitted can be rev ... read full comment
Amidu's victory shows how inefficiency and unqualified judges at supreme court are. They are not qualified at all. if Amidu will intervene the correct their ruling. ruling that has been passed and victims acquitted can be reversed by individuals to correct judges to change white to black. i hate lawyers and judges, they are criminals
C.Y. ANDY-K 10 years ago
Below is my sarcastic take on the Woyome brouhaha, something I saw as a Waterville masterminded Mafioso scam with officials in high places involved. Even the bulk of the 52m Woyome got directly was given to Waterville, he him ... read full comment
Below is my sarcastic take on the Woyome brouhaha, something I saw as a Waterville masterminded Mafioso scam with officials in high places involved. Even the bulk of the 52m Woyome got directly was given to Waterville, he himself said; but they took him to court for "taking too much for his expenses", he claimed. All the same, all we can hear was Woyome! Woyome! Woyome!
Some who missed my sarcasm thought I was writing in support of Woyome. Now that the SC has pronounced judgement, I can say that I've been vindicated! Read on below, folks.
Andy-K
WOYOME CASE: I AM CONFUSED!
Honestly, folks, I've been wondering if I am the only person who is confused and cannot understand how Woyome allegedly defrauded the state. Reading through the jumble of information from government sources, including the EOCO Report, correspondences published by the press, and the tons of verbiage by self proclaimed judges and moralists who have poured out their venom on Woyome and all associated with him, I am still left puzzled how and where fraud emanated from. Maybe I might have missed something due to the information deluge, with so much dissonance in it. So I am writing this to seek some clarity.
Methinks, if you file a case in court, believing in your rights as it were, and you won the case in the face of equally competent legal experts before a judge, or in this case when the defence threw in the towel, believing that they have a weak case, how can that be a fraud? If his claims were fraudulent, then it behoves upon the court to throw it out after the defence had shown stiff opposition and defence. If the defence claimed they had a weak case and did not defend and negotiated a settlement, how can that be fraud on the part of the plaintiff? Payment to the wife of the Chief State Attorney? Naaw! A smart person can explain that: we were planning a business venture together! Tall tale? OK, in Ghana, we all know that plaintiffs and defenders alike and seekers of public services show “appreciation” for services well rendered. It is a pervasive part of the Ghanaian conundrum. So the payment could be an honest show of appreciation for the way and manner the Chief State Attorney handled the case expeditiously. But if the “weak case” claim was just a contrived and dubious copping out by the senior officials of the Attorney General’s Dept, in tacit collusion with Woyome, then I expect not only Chief State Attorney Neequaye-Tetteh and his wife to be under arrest and so charged. The A-G herself and her assistant, Barton Oduro, must also be in the dock for collusion and abetment of a “gargantuan crime” against the state! Or, have they claimed that they were fooled by Neequaye-Tetteh? With such a big sum involved and they never bothered to review the papers for themselves before going on the debt collection mission for Woyome? Were they so daft that they thought they could pull off such a rip off without detection in the future? I pray, if indeed they acted in collusion, then I put it to you that that is one more solid evidence to support my hypothesis that idiotic thieves and morons have been ruling us!
Then, another puzzle. Some said there was no contract but we have read several times mentions of a contract being signed! They also said the alleged non-existent contract was not in Woyome's name ( ha! so there was a contract after all!) and hence he couldn't claim, but that is a porous argument, as obviously, Waterville and the other parties in Austria had given him power of attorney to collect the 2% fee for financial structuring of the loans that did not eventually materialise. Woyome in his own press statement claimed that 1% of the money he collected was to go to the Austrian consortium. But the consortium withdrew from the deal, they said, but was it after the illegal and unconscionable abrogation of the contract by Kufour personally, just as many other contracts were unceremoniously and recklessly terminated by his regime at great cost to the nation, or before? Clarity, fellow Ghanaians, clarity!
I haven’t read anywhere that any documents presented by Woyome were forged, so I presume the letters of authority he presented from Waterville and whoever were genuine ones. So if there is no claim to be made, as claims have been made that Waterville had already been paid by the Kufour regime for the abrogation of the contract and for work already done, especially at El-Wak, should the owners of Waterville and the Austrian consortium not be hauled to court too? I have gleaned that Woyome was their errand man. Or, am I wrong? I need some explanation here. I beg!
A lot of hot air is being blown over this case but I am not excited by it at all. Maybe it is because I am used to the gargantuan ripping off of Ghana since the early 1960s, to the really massive losses Ghana is taking right now due to the unconscionable oil block sell-outs under the shameful C19th mercantile trade-like agreements our brain dead and egoistic “leaders” have formulated; for the dubious assigning of their cronies to the oil companies as local partners and whatever bribes they are getting. Makes total judgement debts paid so far puny in comparison! But most Ghanaians seem to be totally oblivious to this fact! It is indeed pathetic to be “developing people”! So when are Ghanaians going to reach the mentality of developed people?
BTW, can someone locate the news article in which Betty Mould boasted of payments of judgement debts resulting from the NPP's actions as one of her achievements? She claimed she had saved the state many millions by re-negotiating such debts. That was last year, when she was still the A-G. And to think that Rawlings and Konadu wanted such a woman to team up with Mills in 2008. Foisting two such disasters on us as President and the Vice! Wallahi!
Those of you close to Rawlings should tell him that he is screwed up and should stop trying to make decisional outputs on Ghana, as we don’t want any further disaster emanating from his judgement of persons, including that impostor Patrick Agboba he has been trying to impose on us Anlos as Awoamefia since 1999! Next time he should turn up in court to solidarise with him.
We all heaved a sigh of relief when my sister finally went on retirement from the A-G Dept. recently. We were counting the years, then the months and then the days! I know my even saying this small thing here will make her go into tantrums, she being the totally apolitical type who does not like to be drawn into anything political or controversial!
Andy C.Y. Kwawukume
AWAL CANADA 10 years ago
All must hail Matin Amidu and shame all so called state sponsored anti corruption bodies in Ghana, without the zeal to pursue the case to prove himself as selfless Ghanaian whose only fault was blocking corruption from the s ... read full comment
All must hail Matin Amidu and shame all so called state sponsored anti corruption bodies in Ghana, without the zeal to pursue the case to prove himself as selfless Ghanaian whose only fault was blocking corruption from the system, he would have been a villain with soil name till thou kingdom come. we are proud of you Martin Amidu.
HELL FIRE 10 years ago
THIS TRUELY SHOWS THE SECRET OF EWES. THESE FOREIGNERS WANT TO CONTROL GHANA. THEIR PLANS ARE TO DIVIDE THE GREAT AKANS, CREATE HATRED TOWARDS SOME AKANS, ASHANTIS IN PARTICULAR. JJ RAWLINGS LAID THE FUNDATION OF THIS AND NOW ... read full comment
THIS TRUELY SHOWS THE SECRET OF EWES. THESE FOREIGNERS WANT TO CONTROL GHANA. THEIR PLANS ARE TO DIVIDE THE GREAT AKANS, CREATE HATRED TOWARDS SOME AKANS, ASHANTIS IN PARTICULAR. JJ RAWLINGS LAID THE FUNDATION OF THIS AND NOW HIS TRIBESMEN ARE THE PLAN. HE STARTED BY KILLING ALL AKAN FOMER HEADS OF STATE, MURDERED THE 3 LEADING AKAN JUDGES AND PUT FEAR IN THE GREAT AKANS. THIS SHOW OF JJ RAWLINGS WHICH WENT UNCHALLENGED HAS SPURRED HIS TRIBESMEN TO CONTINUE THE PLAN TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE THE AKANS HAVE AND BRING THEM DOWN. EVEN WITH THE NORTHERNERS IN POWER, THEY ARE BEHAVING AS THEY OWN THE LAND AND HAVE SWORN IN A NORTHERNER PRESIDENT,TRYING TO DICTATE THE PACE.YES THIS IS WORKING WELL FOR THEM. THEY HAVE WON OVER SOME GRREDY BASTARD AKANS WHO ARE HELPING THEM IN THEIR DIRTY WORKS. ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN LISTED.THEY WILL KNOW THEMSELVES WHEN THE WHISTLE IS BLOWN.I AM THEREFORE CAUTIONING THE GREAT AKANS TO WATCH OUT AND STAND FIRM FOR WE WILL ALWAYS BE AKANS AND TRUE OWNERS OF THE LAND.
perfect truth 10 years ago
going through history from kwame nkruma to this mahama, dubious judgement debts very pronounced during mills-mahama time. when woyomegate leaked, and woyome was arrested, chiefs and people from the ndc world bank, volta regio ... read full comment
going through history from kwame nkruma to this mahama, dubious judgement debts very pronounced during mills-mahama time. when woyomegate leaked, and woyome was arrested, chiefs and people from the ndc world bank, volta region, rushed to accra t support woyome, some even said the money given to woyome was too small and that more must be added. BY JOVE!!! are we serious as a country!!!! ghana would be better off minus these primitive tribalists from volta region. now that woyome's world is coming to pieces, courtesy one man battalion MARTIN AMIDU, what do these oafs, okujeto ablakwa. ofosu kwakye, sam george, the whole ndc and the voltarians say??? fiafitor!!!!!! DID YOU VOTE FOR THESE NDC THIEVES TO RULE THIS SWEET NATION??? I DOUBT!!!! THE SUPREME COURT MUST SAVE GHANA FROM THESE NDC RAPISTS!!!!
Okofo 10 years ago
What will Kpegah and Bokoor do if Woyome was an Akan?
What will Kpegah and Bokoor do if Woyome was an Akan?
Joe Yeboah 10 years ago
Great article, Kofi. To add a little more to it. In dismissal, The government should seize the assets of public officials found guilty of duplicity in these crimes.
Great article, Kofi. To add a little more to it. In dismissal, The government should seize the assets of public officials found guilty of duplicity in these crimes.
GHFUO, LOVE/DOR YOURSELF! 10 years ago
GOVT SPONSORED TO TURKS N CAICOS N PAY HIM WELL. AS FOR WOYOME...HMMM. HAS HE DONE ANYTHING WRONG? ASIDE FROM CONNIVING TO THIEF GH MONIE?
GOVT SPONSORED TO TURKS N CAICOS N PAY HIM WELL. AS FOR WOYOME...HMMM. HAS HE DONE ANYTHING WRONG? ASIDE FROM CONNIVING TO THIEF GH MONIE?
Nii Akwei 10 years ago
We the people shall hold President Mahama and all those under his command feet to the fire
We the people shall hold President Mahama and all those under his command feet to the fire
YUPYUP 10 years ago
but 4 d timely intervention of SOLE CITIZEN VIGILANTE MARTIN AMIDU Ghana wud have been gored and bled to death under d watch of ATTA MILLS who saw nothing good in Martin Amidu. ........ATTA Mills unleashed his small small boy ... read full comment
but 4 d timely intervention of SOLE CITIZEN VIGILANTE MARTIN AMIDU Ghana wud have been gored and bled to death under d watch of ATTA MILLS who saw nothing good in Martin Amidu. ........ATTA Mills unleashed his small small boys and his rented press on Martin Amidu and JJ for condemning INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRUPTION UNDER THE ide biiiii keke NDC. Meanwhile the real NDC had accountability transparency n integrity as core values. ..........and to loot so much from poverty stricken GHANAIANS under ATTA MILLS might have angered God sooooo very much. ......oooooooooooo ATTA MILLS why did u abuse d power n glory which GOD ALMIGHTY GAVE U?........AS 4 BETTYMOULD AND BARTON ODRO AS WELL AS ALL NDC LAWYERS DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE, God is watching u.............long live Martin n JJ n d real NDC.........now June 4th is justifiable. .......
Seth Danso 10 years ago
ayeekoooo indeed, patriot Amidu. may you live longer to cuddle your great, great grand children
ayeekoooo indeed, patriot Amidu. may you live longer to cuddle your great, great grand children
id 10 years ago
The truth hurts and it is difficult to deal with as compare to deceit which is always interesting to construct, but does enormous damages underneath. Amidu's action and victory is democracy in MOTION , real translation of dem ... read full comment
The truth hurts and it is difficult to deal with as compare to deceit which is always interesting to construct, but does enormous damages underneath. Amidu's action and victory is democracy in MOTION , real translation of democracy to practice, not just shouting democracy on platforms. The Ministers ,Lawyers and Public servant who abused their officer vow i.e holding their offices in high esteem, mist be made to account to the Good people of Ghana their stewardship in this case. The Lawyers involved MUST BOW THEIR heads in SHAME.
Thank you Amidu.
mensah abrampa 10 years ago
I'm certainly proud of Citizen Amidu but what does his victory in court over the judgement debts say about late President Mills?
Both in life and in death President Mills was eulogized by his close friends and associates as ... read full comment
I'm certainly proud of Citizen Amidu but what does his victory in court over the judgement debts say about late President Mills?
Both in life and in death President Mills was eulogized by his close friends and associates as man of God and incorruptible.Contrary to expectation, Incorruptible Mills fired Vigilante Citizen Amidu for daring to do his job as Attorney General and Minister of Justice.The late President acted in a way that is incongruous with his anti corruption image.Maybe the judges would have suffered the same fate if Amidu had gone to seek recovery of the state's lost monies through the law courts.Who knows?
Every once a while in the life of any president, the galloping horse of history comes by and the president has to make a decision. He has to jump on that horse or he misses his turn.The country was and is still embroiled in corruption scandals that's choking the life out of the nation.The president soliloquized :"Do I want to jump on the horse or not? It's too tricky. It's too scary. It's moving too fast. I'm not ready". Whenever you see the nation's #1 gentleman, especially the one extoled as incorruptible who gives someone else's corruption, someone else's exuberance as a reason for not taking action himself, you see a cog in the machine that governs us.
Kofi, what went on and is still going on is systemic corruption but heads ever roll. We are yet to hear of people getting fired from their jobs or even suspended for gross incompetence, or state officials convicted for engaging in endemic and institutionalized corruption and sent to serve jail terms . If any such things happen then it's more of the exception than the rule.
Hardly will a thief shout: "thief, thief" when another thief is being pursued.It's only rival drug gangs who fight each other for control of territory. In the world of systemic corruption there are no rival gangs, there are whistleblowers because they're all partners in crime with few exceptions like Martin. Martin Amidu is not a "thief" but of the rest including Mills, I cannot give an emphatic yes or no answer.
Okonko Palm 10 years ago
I am sure Kofi Ata the good man and well rounded intellectual fully understand the concept of cabinet responsibility.The concept is there to ensure that once decisions have been agreed it remains in the cabinet room.This to e ... read full comment
I am sure Kofi Ata the good man and well rounded intellectual fully understand the concept of cabinet responsibility.The concept is there to ensure that once decisions have been agreed it remains in the cabinet room.This to ensure the appearance of unity and not to look divided which gives a wrong message and hence lack of effective governance.If you disagree with a decision in cabinet which you consider unacceptable you resign and that is what happens in all civilized jurisdiction but not to take matters into your own hands as you seem to suggest.As you put it,the end justifies the means! That is completely unacceptable and a breach of the a time tested convention of cabinet responsibility!To waive it to justify the means would be wrong.
Now ,there is a misconception about the role of Mould Idrisu and Amidu in this Saga.Though it was Mould whose tenure made the first payment,she sought a stay of execution on the remaining payment in court which was granted when she realized there was something wrong.Amidu had taken over from her at the time, but it was Amidu who made the subsequent payments,that is under his tenure.So I am appalled about this Amidu the saint who is equally guilty if you should hold Mould idrisu guilty as to have done.My point is that Some of the payments were made under Amidu so hold him responsible as well in fairness to all.
Of course he is trying to make up for his mistakes by his action as the one man vigilante and that is plausible but that doesn't excuse his blunders.Personally I don't see him as a team player.He is full of himself and his actions are actuated not by patriotism,but by a motive for revenge against a party he thought owns him a favor.He has not forgiven them for his deserving dismissal and this efforts are a way to undermine the present government.After all the government is pursuing this case in the courts to and the end results will be the same.Woyome's case was not touched by the SC because the government is in court for the same reason.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
Okonko, the issues you raised regarding Martin's approach may be valid and in fact, I do remember criticising his open attacks in his letters or statements to the press. However, I am still of the view that the late President ... read full comment
Okonko, the issues you raised regarding Martin's approach may be valid and in fact, I do remember criticising his open attacks in his letters or statements to the press. However, I am still of the view that the late President could have slapped his a bit in private and ordered him to go and continue with the good work in recovering the money. I think he was given a raw deal and pushed to the wall. As a result, he certainly became a one man thousand and not a team player.
I disagree that his victory will undermine the Mahama government. This Mahama government is not the same as the Mills government, though I accept that he was the VP under the late Mills. The government will be judged on how it response to the ruling.
The victory is an indictment on all Ghanaian institutions, especially, the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary as well as the civil service and other constitutional institutions.
Regarding the role of Mould Iddrisu, she has no excuse because she failed to make sure that the civil servants who were advising her were doing their work effectively and efficiently. As a result of her weak oversight of those under her, they misled or deliberately gave her wrong advice for their personal benefit. It also appears that, because Woyome was an NDC contributor, ministers were too keen to assist him make the claim, so they did not put up a fight. This is on the wrong belief that, the contract was abrogated by the NPP government because he was a supporter of NDC.
Kan Na wo 10 years ago
We are all waitingto see what will happen to the officilas whose neglegence cause the state this big loss.Polititians and top government officials do all sort of wrong things in Ghana but goes freely always.We live to see.
We are all waitingto see what will happen to the officilas whose neglegence cause the state this big loss.Polititians and top government officials do all sort of wrong things in Ghana but goes freely always.We live to see.
LONTO-BOY 10 years ago
MASSA KOFI, I think you should recommend Mr Martin Amidu for Knighthood or Peerage in the next Queen's Honours, for his selfless commitment and determination in fighting corruption in Ghana. Martin Amidu is indeed, a man of p ... read full comment
MASSA KOFI, I think you should recommend Mr Martin Amidu for Knighthood or Peerage in the next Queen's Honours, for his selfless commitment and determination in fighting corruption in Ghana. Martin Amidu is indeed, a man of patriotism and integrity.
There is no doubt that the country's Judgement Debt payments were politically and criminally orchestrated corruption contributed by the NDC-NPP Governments' incompetence, and legal manipulation. Also, there's no denying that some top Government officials/ministers are shamefully complicit in these fraudulent payments. In the ideal world, some of these ex-Ministers/current top Government officials should be sent to prison for their part in these political fraud and criminality. However, this is Ghana. A country where Government ministers are beyond the law.
Thank heaven, Martin has been vindicated. He has redeemed his dignity and enhanced his reputation considering the cynical circumstances he lost his post under ex-President Mills.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 10 years ago
LONTO-BOY, though I once put forward names for the Her Majesty's Honours only two of those I nominated were given MBE and OBE respectively. I no longer have that privilege. Even in those days, those I was asked to put forward ... read full comment
LONTO-BOY, though I once put forward names for the Her Majesty's Honours only two of those I nominated were given MBE and OBE respectively. I no longer have that privilege. Even in those days, those I was asked to put forward for consideration only got MBE and OBE, which were no near Knighthood or a Peerage. I am not sure if I will do it again because I had no idea of who would be picked among the three nominations I presented to the then Active Community Unit of the Home Office every year (1998 - 2002). Sadly, the two who were selected happened to be the Chairmen of Board Trustees of the organisation that I was Director, so I ended being accused of favouritism or inside dealing, which if true is an offence.
I agree with you that he deserves a medal or an Honour.
nana 10 years ago
its unfortunate to note, that the few ppl of iontergrity in this gorvernment dont fit, its sad we have a bunch of dumb guys as our leaders, somtimes i just get sick of this immature gorvernment
its unfortunate to note, that the few ppl of iontergrity in this gorvernment dont fit, its sad we have a bunch of dumb guys as our leaders, somtimes i just get sick of this immature gorvernment
A well written piece! I echo your sentiments about Martin Amidu. I appreciate his determination to make Ghana a great nation!
More grease to his elbows for caring about Ghana enough to risk his ministerial portfolio and all ...
read full comment
Amidu's victory shows how inefficiency and unqualified judges at supreme court are. They are not qualified at all. if Amidu will intervene the correct their ruling. ruling that has been passed and victims acquitted can be rev ...
read full comment
Below is my sarcastic take on the Woyome brouhaha, something I saw as a Waterville masterminded Mafioso scam with officials in high places involved. Even the bulk of the 52m Woyome got directly was given to Waterville, he him ...
read full comment
All must hail Matin Amidu and shame all so called state sponsored anti corruption bodies in Ghana, without the zeal to pursue the case to prove himself as selfless Ghanaian whose only fault was blocking corruption from the s ...
read full comment
THIS TRUELY SHOWS THE SECRET OF EWES. THESE FOREIGNERS WANT TO CONTROL GHANA. THEIR PLANS ARE TO DIVIDE THE GREAT AKANS, CREATE HATRED TOWARDS SOME AKANS, ASHANTIS IN PARTICULAR. JJ RAWLINGS LAID THE FUNDATION OF THIS AND NOW ...
read full comment
going through history from kwame nkruma to this mahama, dubious judgement debts very pronounced during mills-mahama time. when woyomegate leaked, and woyome was arrested, chiefs and people from the ndc world bank, volta regio ...
read full comment
What will Kpegah and Bokoor do if Woyome was an Akan?
Great article, Kofi. To add a little more to it. In dismissal, The government should seize the assets of public officials found guilty of duplicity in these crimes.
GOVT SPONSORED TO TURKS N CAICOS N PAY HIM WELL. AS FOR WOYOME...HMMM. HAS HE DONE ANYTHING WRONG? ASIDE FROM CONNIVING TO THIEF GH MONIE?
We the people shall hold President Mahama and all those under his command feet to the fire
but 4 d timely intervention of SOLE CITIZEN VIGILANTE MARTIN AMIDU Ghana wud have been gored and bled to death under d watch of ATTA MILLS who saw nothing good in Martin Amidu. ........ATTA Mills unleashed his small small boy ...
read full comment
ayeekoooo indeed, patriot Amidu. may you live longer to cuddle your great, great grand children
The truth hurts and it is difficult to deal with as compare to deceit which is always interesting to construct, but does enormous damages underneath. Amidu's action and victory is democracy in MOTION , real translation of dem ...
read full comment
I'm certainly proud of Citizen Amidu but what does his victory in court over the judgement debts say about late President Mills?
Both in life and in death President Mills was eulogized by his close friends and associates as ...
read full comment
I am sure Kofi Ata the good man and well rounded intellectual fully understand the concept of cabinet responsibility.The concept is there to ensure that once decisions have been agreed it remains in the cabinet room.This to e ...
read full comment
Okonko, the issues you raised regarding Martin's approach may be valid and in fact, I do remember criticising his open attacks in his letters or statements to the press. However, I am still of the view that the late President ...
read full comment
We are all waitingto see what will happen to the officilas whose neglegence cause the state this big loss.Polititians and top government officials do all sort of wrong things in Ghana but goes freely always.We live to see.
MASSA KOFI, I think you should recommend Mr Martin Amidu for Knighthood or Peerage in the next Queen's Honours, for his selfless commitment and determination in fighting corruption in Ghana. Martin Amidu is indeed, a man of p ...
read full comment
LONTO-BOY, though I once put forward names for the Her Majesty's Honours only two of those I nominated were given MBE and OBE respectively. I no longer have that privilege. Even in those days, those I was asked to put forward ...
read full comment
its unfortunate to note, that the few ppl of iontergrity in this gorvernment dont fit, its sad we have a bunch of dumb guys as our leaders, somtimes i just get sick of this immature gorvernment