Alfred Agbesi Woyome stops officials from valuing his four houses

Officials from the Attorney Generals Department and Lands Commission  on Thursday were prevented by Alfred Agbesi Woyome from getting access to his Kpehe residence for valuation as the state attempts to retrieve some ¢51 million from the embattled businessman. The officials had been trying to value four houses at Kpehe in Accra, identified to belong to Mr Woyome, in fulfillment of a Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr Woyome to pay back ¢51 million fraudulently taken from the state after Mr Martin Amidu, a former Attorney General challenged the legality of judgment debts paid the businessman, Waterville, and Isofoton.

Following delays in retrieving the money, the Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court’s judgment ordering Mr Woyome to refund the cash to the state. The nine-judge panel chaired by Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, warned that a higher crime could be committed if Mr Woyome refuses to refund the money.

The state later filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking direction to enforce the order to compel Mr Woyome to refund the money. The Attorney-General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, was then granted the power to use any appropriate means to retrieve the money.

Mr Woyome, however, does not seem to agree with the A-G’s strategy to retrieve the cash. In an exclusive interview with Joy News’ Favour Nunoo after the drama, Mr Woyome said he did not err in his decision to deny representatives of Attorney Generals Department and Lands Commission access to his Kpehe residence for valuation and subsequent confiscation to the state.

According to him, the move by the state officials constituted an illegality. “There is a process in court which the A-G is aware of – since March [2016]. My lawyer wrote to them today because the A-G wrote and said there was no process. I am wondering why they want this media drama,” he told Joy News.

The businessman, however, said his fingers are crossed for the day the Supreme Court will see reason and overturn its ruling against him. “I believe that one day the Supreme Court will depart from this decision and for me, I don’t accept it. We are using every means possible externally and within the Africa region to seek a right,” he said.