Woyome defends payment to EOCO
Businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome has debunked allegations by the anti-corruption crusader, Mr Martin Amidu, that the cheque he issued for GH¢4million to settle part of the GH¢51.2 million judgement debt paid to him by the state is fake.
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He explained that he issued a cheque in the name of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) because he was not sure who should be the recipient.
“I made the cheque without writing who it is meant for because I was confused as to who should be the recipient,” he explained.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the issuance of the cheque in the name of EOCO at a press conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Woyome said he addressed it to the EOCO after he had held a meeting with the Attorney-General in the presence of the Solicitor-General.
Justification
He justified why the GH¢51.2 million judgement debt was paid to him and said that although it was legally paid to him, he agreed to refund it according to the orders of the Supreme Court.
“The money that was paid to me was and is, I believe, my own money and that the money was paid into an Agricultural Development Bank account that is controlled by the Bank of Ghana and by the agencies of the republic,” he explained.
Fight for business community
The visibly angry businessman explained that he went to court because he felt the government owed him, and true to his conviction, the court directed that he should be paid the money.
He stated that he would fight the case to its logical end and said he was fighting in order to defend the business community, stressing that what had happened to him could happen to anybody.
Mr Woyome challenged the authority of the Supreme Court to interpret Article 181, explaining that it was supposed to be interpreted by the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. “This article is making everybody internationally to think that we are a 419 country,” he added.
Unforeseen forces
He said he believed that Mr Amidu was being used by some unforeseen forces as a weapon against innocent people and people who were doing very well, including the President, who was seeking re-election.
“In fact, those using Martin are using him against himself. So, why should you use such a weapon to fight in a political season? Mr Woyome queried.
Vile allegations
In his opinion, Mr Amidu was embittered for not being selected by former President John Evans Atta Mills as his vice.
Mr Woyome recalled how Mr Amidu was sacked by the then Atta Mills-led government for failing to prove which ministers were corrupt as he claimed.
He said he was ready to meet Mr Amidu in court, expressing the belief that “Martin has a problem if he wants to challenge me, he should go to court immediately and we will ask the court to call the appropriate authority so that we bring that thing to scrutinise him.”
Supreme Court ruling
Touching on the Supreme Court ruling, Mr Woyome said even though he respected the directives of the Supreme Court that he refunded the money to the state, he believed the court erred in its decision.
He called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to stand up against such a ruling because it was not a ruling against him as a person but that it would be binding on all and vowed to go to every length to seek justice.
Mr Woyome said the laws must be seen to be protecting everyone, stressing that justice must be seen to be done to all manner of persons. “And that is why I said I will continue to fight to the last drop of my blood,” he added.
Woyome generosity
He challenged anyone with a purported list of people who benefited from the judgement debt money to come public, stressing that people he issued cheques to were those who legitimately worked for him and he had to pay them.
Mr Woyome denied ever taking bribe or paying bribe, explaining that what he did, when he returned to Ghana was out of generosity.
He said a number of Ghanaians benefited from his benevolence, “including some of you journalists here.”
He hinted his determination to haul people who were peddling false accusations against him to the law court, citing some media houses, journalists and individuals he had already dragged to court.
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