A youth group, Coalition of Youth for Positive National Development (CYPOND),in the Upper West region, has thrown its weight behind Mr Alfred Woyome, a businessman, in the matter of the current brouhaha over the $42 million judgment debt paid him by the state. The group said its main aim is to follow truth and etiquette and called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to objectively look at the Woyome issue on its merit.
The group made the call at a press conference in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, to state its position on the matter.
Spokesperson for the group, Mr Puo-Ire, said facts available to the group through thorough research has revealed that in May 2003, former president Kufuor’s cabinet gave a final approval to the then Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Osafo Marfo to lead the national bid for the right to host the 26th African Cup of Nations Tournament(CAN 2008).
According to him, Ghana was awarded the hosting rights of the tournament on July 8th 2004 and on January 6th 2006 an invitation was given to tenderers to express interest in the procurement of goods,works and services.
Mr Puo-Ire hinted that between 12th of April and July 4th 2005, 12 firms including Waterville/Vamed Engineering led by Mr Alfred Woyome were shortlisted and required to provide proof of the ability to finance the project and also provide detailed drawings and programmes of work.
The CYPOND spokesperson said this was necessitated by the absence of budgetary allocations for the project in the 2005 national budget. He said the major consideration in assessing the financial proposals by the 12 firms were the source of funding, credibility of the source, timeliness in accessing the funds and concessionality of the financial proposal. He said bids were opened on July 4th 2005 for evaluation and the subcommittee on finance made up of the then Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the head of Aid and Debt Management Unit and Legal Department of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and based on the criteria set, recommended Waterville/Vamed Engineering led by Mr Alfred Woyome.Mr Woyome’s company according to spokesperson got the approval of the Central Tender Board established under the Public Procurement Act 2003.
He said per a letter dated August 5th 2005,by the approval of the central tender board, the then Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Agyeman Manu wrote a letter introducing Mr Alfred Woyome and Vamed Engineering to ‘international finance institutions’ as agent of the state. Mr Puo-Ire hinted that “This, for us constituted a legal relation between the government and Mr Alfred Woyome per the operations of the Public Procurement Act 2003”.
The spokesperson said unfortunately the then Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo “inexplicably abrogated the contract and awarded it to a Chinese firm that did not even show interest in the tendering process”.
The group also called on the government and the President to ignore calls from any quarter for the dismissal of Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, since she has exceptionally exhibited innovation and competence especially with the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) by migrating teachers onto the scheme. According to the group she has also been very phenomenal in her capacity as an Attorney General and in providing educational infrastructure nationwide.
CYPOND also welcome any step taken by the President to review the Woyome case as the group believes in the integrity and love for accountability. The group blamed the former government for creating the present problem due to their inefficiency.
Mr. Puo-ire Prosper said $42million may be a very colossal amount of money for the state to have been given to any one individual or group of persons, as judgment debts have become a major cause of worry and that is why the group decided to add its voice to the Woyomeissue.
Mr Puo-Ire questioned as to whether the $42 million given to Mr Alfred Woyome is the beginning of payment of judgment debts in the country and wondered whether there had not been any contract between Mr Woyome and the Ghanaian government which made it mandatory for the payment of the $42 million to him by a court order.