[ 2012-05-24 ]

Martin Amidu, former AG

Martin Amidu accuses gov’t faction of preventing 'Woyomegate' investigations
Former Attorney General Martin Amidu is accusing a
faction within the government of preventing
criminal investigations into the payment of the
controversial 51million cedis judgment debt to
businessman Alfred Woyome.

A statement signed by Martin Amidu in reaction to
comments by Mr Ayikoi Otoo, a former A-G on Citi
FM, calls on all committed Ghanaians to show
interest in efforts to get to the bottom of the
matter and says any further adjournment beyond
June 4 2012 will definitely create the impression
that government wants to avoid conclusion on the
trial before the next elections.

“I have read the worries expressed by Hon Ayikoi
Otoo about the seeming delay in the prosecution of
Alfred Agbesi Woyome and others for suspected
fraud and other offences arising out of the ill
fated Government of Ghana and Waterville
contracts. I entirely share his desire for
expeditious justice through an early prosecution
of the case. I had insisted on Mr. Prosper Agblor,
the Director-General/CID, and his very able
professional staff being allowed to investigate
this matter for possible criminal prosecutions.
The President told me to allow the Economic and
Organized Crime Office to investigate the case and
submit a report first. The Government’s
inexperienced faction supporting Mr. Woyome did
not want any type of police criminal
investigations and surprisingly had their way,” Mr
Amidu stated.

“The subsequent decision to allow the
Inspector-General of Police and his
Director-General/CID to arrest and investigate
Alfred Agbesi Woyome, and Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh,”
according to Mr Amidu, “was clearly a victory for
Ghana resulting from the intense pressure from the
overwhelming public agitation against any cover up
of the scandal in the circumstances of my exit
from office. I have every confidence that if the
office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is
given a free hand to direct the police
investigations, the resulting police docket will
be solid for prosecution.”

The former AG who suffered the collateral damage
of a dismissal on the matter of the payment to
Woyome, said in his statement that, “The
Director-General/CID had to build a docket from
the scratch. The case to the best of my knowledge
is complex and could lead to others being charged
for prosecution as well. The Police cannot just
rely on the report and materials supplied by EOCO
without taking their own statements and going
through the requisite motions. EOCO has the
capacity, if left alone, to assist the Police to
trace assets and do many other helpful things for
the Police.”

“My understanding is that the trial will start at
the next adjourned date on 4th June 2012. Hon.
Otoo will agree with me that a good police
investigation will be more than compensation for
any delays. Any further adjournment beyond the
next adjourned date on 4th June will definitely
create the impression that Government is
deliberately buying time by pushing the trial to
after the legal vacation in October and thus avoid
the conclusion of the trial before the elections
in December. But I also have an additional worry
from Hon. Otoo’s. I hope the Director of Public
Prosecution’s Office will have a free hand to
review the docket professionally and advice the
Attorney-General. What I fear is the so called
“NDC Legal Team” some of whose members unethically
make it their business to meddle in the
professional affairs of the office of the
Attorney-General while at the same time acting as
lawyers for clients whose interests are opposed to
those of the Republic,” he noted.

“I am as concerned as Hon. Otoo to get to the
bottom of this suspected fraudulent crime or
crimes. I appreciate his patriotism in keeping
this matter alive in the eyes of the public by his
intervention,” the statement concluded.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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