Alfred Agbesi Woyome
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24th December, 2011
Who's Responsible For Woyome's Debt? - President Asks
President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday waded into the controversy over the payment of a judgement debt to Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman, questioning how that liability was created.
"We must all know who created the liability," he said in an interview of Radio Gold, an Accra private radio station.
As his first public statement on the matter, after he had ordered an investigating into the issue, President Mills said although the government was worried about the amount paid, Ghanaians needed to know who was responsible for the debt.
The President stated unequivocally on Friday that in as much as the government was worried about the quantum of money the State had paid as compensation for judegment debts; the public must also know who caused them.
Amidst a raging debate over the payment of the GH¢58 million to Vamed/Waterville Engineering and Alfred Woyome as judegment debt, President Mills directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office
(EOCO) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the matter.
The directive also asked the EOCO to find out the total amount of money paid out as judgment debts since the Mills administration took over the reins of government on January 7, 2009 and who the
beneficiaries were
The President however explained in the interview that the objective for the investigation was not to target beneficiaries of judgement debts.
“I would want to tell the beneficiaries that I am not out to embarrass them. The allegation was made that Mr Woyome was paid because he was NDC. I want the whole of the country to know that since we came to power we have paid a lot of judgement debts, and the country must know the size of those debts, and who incurred them.
“And the payment, perhaps, as further step, we have to find out who incurred the liability because if the court awarded the judgement or awarded the cost, whatever it is, it’s a way of saying that the beneficiary is entitled to it.
“Now who made it possible for that beneficiary to be entitled to that amount? So we have to look critically at the issue. When were these debts incurred and who were responsible" he said.
In spite of the EOCO investigations, he said his administration was prepared to also take up the challenge by the Minority in Parliament, calling for an independent public inquiry into the
case.
He was confident that through that, those who might have “willfully caused financial loss” to the State would be exposed for the law to take its course.
President Mills, who addressed questions on a wide number of issues ranging from his official and private life, was optimistic that Ghanaians would retain his administration in power next year’s general
elections, saying the government has worked to deserve another term.
"The better Ghana agenda is on course and Ghanaians are the witnesses to the improvements made," he said.
Touching on the impending elections, President Mills reiterated his commitment to free, fair and transparent elections, and vowed not to allow anything to disturb the peace being enjoyed by the nation.
"We must all know who created the liability," he said in an interview of Radio Gold, an Accra private radio station.
As his first public statement on the matter, after he had ordered an investigating into the issue, President Mills said although the government was worried about the amount paid, Ghanaians needed to know who was responsible for the debt.
The President stated unequivocally on Friday that in as much as the government was worried about the quantum of money the State had paid as compensation for judegment debts; the public must also know who caused them.
Amidst a raging debate over the payment of the GH¢58 million to Vamed/Waterville Engineering and Alfred Woyome as judegment debt, President Mills directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office
(EOCO) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the matter.
The directive also asked the EOCO to find out the total amount of money paid out as judgment debts since the Mills administration took over the reins of government on January 7, 2009 and who the
beneficiaries were
The President however explained in the interview that the objective for the investigation was not to target beneficiaries of judgement debts.
“I would want to tell the beneficiaries that I am not out to embarrass them. The allegation was made that Mr Woyome was paid because he was NDC. I want the whole of the country to know that since we came to power we have paid a lot of judgement debts, and the country must know the size of those debts, and who incurred them.
“And the payment, perhaps, as further step, we have to find out who incurred the liability because if the court awarded the judgement or awarded the cost, whatever it is, it’s a way of saying that the beneficiary is entitled to it.
“Now who made it possible for that beneficiary to be entitled to that amount? So we have to look critically at the issue. When were these debts incurred and who were responsible" he said.
In spite of the EOCO investigations, he said his administration was prepared to also take up the challenge by the Minority in Parliament, calling for an independent public inquiry into the
case.
He was confident that through that, those who might have “willfully caused financial loss” to the State would be exposed for the law to take its course.
President Mills, who addressed questions on a wide number of issues ranging from his official and private life, was optimistic that Ghanaians would retain his administration in power next year’s general
elections, saying the government has worked to deserve another term.
"The better Ghana agenda is on course and Ghanaians are the witnesses to the improvements made," he said.
Touching on the impending elections, President Mills reiterated his commitment to free, fair and transparent elections, and vowed not to allow anything to disturb the peace being enjoyed by the nation.
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