[ 2016-11-22 ]

If Rawlings knew the truth, he won't call me a thief - Woyome
Embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome says he
holds no grudge against the former president Jerry
John Rawlings for calling him a thief in a
judgement debt scandal.

The NDC financier said the former President who is
a friend would not have come to that conclusion if
he was made aware of the full facts of the case.

President Rawlings in March 2015, described Woyome
as a thief despite a High Court ruling that said
the businessman was not guilty in any criminal
conduct when he pocketed GHC51.2m as a judgement
debt payment.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings was of the
belief that state officials acted in concert to
help free Woyome of any crime.

"I just read that the thief called Woyome had been
freed. Why? Because his accomplices [Betty Mould
and one other person] who were in government were
not produced in court for vital evidence to
incriminate him.” Rawlings said.

Speaking on Joy News channel The Pulse Monday,
Woyome blamed the media for the greatly
misinforming the public since the scandal broke in
2011.

He said the media for five years having mounted a
vilification "concert" against him every day
"including Sunday". He condemned journalist for
insisting that the payment was illegal.

According to him, the court said it was
unconstitutional but not illegal because he
obtained judgement for the payment through a court
of competent jurisdiction,the High Court.

It was the Supreme court which held that because
per the constutition Woyome's agreement with the
state was not approved by parliament, the
subsequent payment for his services could not be
grounded in law.

Alfred Woyome also said the Supreme Court which
ordered him to pay back the money was also misled
to come to the conclusion that they did in July
2014.

According to Woyome, the money was lawfully owed
him and he has the right to spend it the way he
deems fit.

The state had began a process to question him in
court about his assets in a bid to help retreive
the money.

But the state in a u-turn declined to do so
explaining that it had reached an agreement on a
payment plan hence there was no immediate need to
orally examine Woyome.

But former Attorney-General who won judgment
against Woyome in 2014 to pay back the money, took
up the opportunity to do the state's work.

The Supreme Court granted his application last
week Thursday and set November 24 for the
highly-anticipated showdown.

Woyome stressed in the interview with Joy News'
Francis Abban that has pledged again to pay back
the money. Despite promising to pay back the money
by December 2015, Alfred Woyome has reneged.

"My word is my bond", he told Francis and added
that he will do this although he strongly
disagreed with the 2014 ruling.

Woyome said he would not challenge the Supreme
court decision but warned that after coughing out
the money, the state will pay him so much more
than it took.

Source - Joyfm

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