General News of Saturday, 21 January 2017

Source: 3news.com

Woyome file to be reviewed, Attorney General-designate hints

Ms Gloria Akuffo will be AG if approved by the Appointments Committee Ms Gloria Akuffo will be AG if approved by the Appointments Committee

Attorney General-designate Gloria Akuffo says she will take a second look at the file of businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome as regards the GH¢52.1 million judgement debt case of 2012 if her nomination is approved.

“When I get there, I will study the file and see how quickly we can get the money,” Ms Akuffo said. She was answering a question posed by Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency during her vetting on Saturday, January 21.

The former Aviation Minister acknowledged the stage of the case so far and says she will do her best in the interest of Ghanaians. “I will put my best foot forward and look at the matter and do what is best.” Mr Woyome’s judgement debt case is the most popular among other cases over the past five years.

The Attorney General-designate, who will also become Minister of Justice if approved, said she has asked for a comprehensive list of all judgement debt cases from the Solicitor-General.

“This is to help strategise on the recovery of these debts,” she noted, adding that interests accrued will also be collected. Asked about timelines, the Aburi Girls’ SHS alumna said she cannot “make categorical undertakings that if you give me approval tomorrow I can recover the money”.

“That is a matter subject to litigation.” Woyome’s case has seen a number of Attorneys General including the immediate past Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, who has been accused of not doing much to retrieve the money.

Pressure groups like Occupy Ghana have been hard on her over the issue. Mr Woyome himself has accused some elements including a former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, of ill-intention against his person.