... for causing ‘gargantuan’ ¢580bn financial loss to the state

The CAN 2008 Judgment saga, one of the judgment debts that has cost the country and the poor Ghanaian taxpayer a whooping sum of GH¢600 million paid by the Mills’ led administration is turning ugly as the Concern NDC members with over million Ghanaians are ready to hit the streets tomorrow, Tuesday, 24th January 2012 to drum effectively, their call for the arrest of some key former ministers including former president Kuffour to account for their roles which made the State to lose such huge sums of money in payment of judgment debts.

The Concerned group of the ruling party which in a press conference last Tuesday appealed to the government to compel Ministers of the former Kuffour’s administration to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to account for their roles which made the State to lose huge sums of monies in payment of judgment debts or they will stake a demonstration said they are forced to go onto streets.

The group gave the government up to last Friday to compel officials of the past administration to appear before EOCO or they will hit the streets if government fails to heed their demand within the stipulated timeframe.

The group in that press conference noted the entire cabinet under the erstwhile Kufuor government must be arrested to assist with investigations into the controversial GHS 58 million judgment debts paid to Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman. “Indeed Nana Addo, Kufuor, Osafo Marfo, Kan Dapaa, and the entire cabinet of 2005/2006 must account for why their recklessness and irresponsible decisions in government led to the lost of over a hundred million Ghana Cedis as judgment debt,” Robert stated and called for the resignation of NPP flag bearer, Akufo-Addo.

Ghana, a developing nation with multiple developmental challenges, be paying out 600 million Ghana Cedis in judgement debt in the last three years? How could Ghana loose 200 million Ghana Cedis in 2010 as per the Auditor Generals’ report? Yes the 58 million Ghana Cedis judgement debt paid to Woyome, currently being investigated, is big, but the 600 million lost to judgement debt in three years is huge.

“In furtherance to our Tuesday 17th January, 2012 threat at a Press Conference to put over one million Ghanaians into the streets of Accra to protest, should the government refuse to compel Kufour, Akufo Addo, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and the government cabinet of 2005/2006 to cooperate with the EOCO, the Concerned NDC members wish to serve notice as follows: Compelling The Government Cabinet Of 2005/2006, Including Kufour, Akufo Addo And Jake Obetsebi Lamptey To Cooperate With The Investigations Of The EOCO

The demonstration will start at the Obra Spot, Circle through the Adabraka Police Station Road and End at the Osu Castle”, Hajia Sherifatu Sule, Spokesperson to the Group noted in a notice of demonstration statement It is recalled that members of the past government have refused to cooperate with the EOCO, the investigative body to unravel the circumstances leading to the payment of that quantum of money to Mr. Woyome as directed by President John Evans Atta Mills. The National Chairman of NPP, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, has said the party would only encourage its members to participate in a public inquiry such as the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.

But the NDC youth group, irritated by the NPP’s stance, say the party has no right to dictate to the President as to which organisation should carry out the investigations.

“We find the actions of Obestebi Lamptey to be criminal. Anyone who acts to protect criminals or stand in the way of lawful investigations is himself a criminal who must be prosecuted. We call on the state to immediately arrest Mr Obestebi Lamptey,” Secretary of the group, Robert Kpeteme, said during the press conference. They also questioned the motives of the Attorney-General, Martin Amidu, whom they say has “resurrected a dead and buried case against Mr Woyome...particularly when NPP companies and individuals have been paid judgment debts by the same government.” “The NPP did not suffer the kind of ridicule and frustrations Mr Woyome’s own party colleagues in government have subjected him to,” they stated, pledging their unflinching support for the NDC financier.

“We the Concerned Members of the NDC wish to give Government up to Friday 20th Jan 2012 to arrest and compel the NPP government cabinet of 2005/2006 to The EOCO. Indeed we want to state categorically that, if the cooperation of the said persons is not secured by Friday, the 20th January, 2012 we shall mobilize all the progressive groups in Ghana to embark on a massive demonstration to drive home our message. Therefore by this submission we are calling on all members of the NDC and other progressive movements to stand by for a crusade to clean our society of corruption”, the statement noted.