A former Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency, Paul Collins Appiah Ofori, says it will be a disgrace to his own New Patriotic Party (NPP) government if they fail to retrieve the GH¢52.1 million from businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome.
The anti-corruption crusader says the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by John Mahama failed to retrieve the money and so if the NPP also fails to do so, it will be a disgrace to the government. Mr. Appiah Ofori was commenting on the decision by a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin A. Amidu, to back down on his legendary legal attempts at retrieving the GH¢51.2 million wrongfully paid to embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome by the state on Onua FM’s Ghana Dadwene hosted by Kwame Karikari. Mr. Amidu, who was seeking the permission of the Supreme Court to orally examine Mr. Woyome on the controversial amount, on Wednesday told the court that he wants the case withdrawn in view of the commitment by President Akufo-Addo’s government to retrieve the amount.
Mr. Appiah Ofori said “it is not a good move at all for Amidu to back down. I disagree with him because he did something that has given him fame and credibility in Ghana so he should continue”. He added that “it will be a disgrace for the government if it fails to take that money and every government appointee will do same”. The former MP explained that the NDC government could not do it so he [Martin Amidu] should have continued to retrieve the money for the state. Mr. Appiah Ofori said Mr. Amidu should have gone to the government for financial help if it has to do with finance than to use his own money to fight for the state and if the government fails to help, he should have backed out.
“I am optimist Nana Addo would have helped because he has the facts and figures on the grounds but I don’t think any discussions have gone on,” he added.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo