Woyome snubs Public Accounts Committee

July 24, 2012 (Front Page) ALFRED Agbesi Woyome, the recipient of the controversial GHC51.2 million judgment debt has snubbed an invitation to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. The PAC through a letter dated July 17, 2012, addressed to Woyome and signed by the Chairman of the PAC, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, invited Woyome to appear before the Committee today, July 23, 2012 at 1.00 p.m. to answer questions pertaining to the payment of GHC51.2 million to him. A copy of the letter, which is available to the Daily Graphic also directed Woyome to furnish the committee with all documents concerning the payment of the judgment debt by close of work on Friday, July 20, 2012. However, Oseawuo Chambers and Co., a legal firm representing Woyome in a letter dated July 20, 2012, said “we are instructed by our client, Alfred Agbesi Woyome to inform you of his inability to appear before your committee to assist in its deliberations on the payment of judgment debts/compensation to some individuals and institutions as contained in your letter under reference.” According to the lawyers, Woyome was currently facing two counts of defrauding by false pretence and willfully causing financial loss contrary to specified provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Besides, the letter went on to state that the Attorney-General had commenced an action to set aside the earlier consent judgement entered in favour of Woyome on grounds of fraud. “As you might be aware, Martin Alamisi Amidu, the former Attorney-General whose outbursts on the matter is unparrelled, has also filed a suit in respect of the same matter in the Supreme Court against our client and three other persons,” the letter continued. Expunging further, the letter stated that “the cumulative effect of all this is that, the very issue you intend to deliberate on is sub judice and our client will not take part in the proceedings relating to this matter before your committee.” The letter prayed the committee not to construe the stance of Woyome to mean an evasion on matters the committee intended to raise but rather as “his respect for the rule of law and the belief in the separation of powers provided by the 1992 Constitution.” A second prosecution witness, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, who is a former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, has since completed his evidence-in-chief at Woyome’s trial and is currently being cross examined by Woyome’s lawyer, Mr. Sarfo Buabeng. Hearing of his criminal case continues on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 while the civil suit instituted against him by the state has been adjourned sine die to enable the Supreme Court to deliberate on an action brought against him by Mr. Amidu.