Woyome saga: Prosecutor complains of intimidation

The Chief State Prosecutor on Monday complained to the Fast Track High Court hearing the case of Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman that sympathisers of the accused person are trying to "intimidate" her.

Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Chief State Attorney, told the open court presided over by Mr Justice John Ajet-Nasam that anytime she attempted to ask the accused person a question, she hears murmuring, chuckling and comments directed at her from the audience.

“I have been hearing these things for some time now, it is time l made the court to know about it,” she added.

Mrs Obuobisa said this during cross-examination of Mr Woyome in Accra. She said the State assigned her to the case and that she has nothing against the accused person, which would warrant supporters’ anger against her.

In addressing the issue, the judge told the accused person to advice his sympathisers on their conduct and that he would re-visit his decision for the accused person to select only five of his people to witness the case in court.

“If l give the order for you to select your sympathisers l will also direct them where to sit to enable the court control and know where the chuckling is coming from,” he added.

Mr Justice Ajet-Nasam assured the State prosecutor of ensuring order among the audience anytime cross-examination was on-going.

Meanwhile, the State prosecution said the offer of a funding letter attached to the bid process was never accepted by the government but the accused person said it was incorrect and that there were committee reports to support his claim.

She said it was as a result of the truncation of the bid process that government gave the contract to the Shanghai Construction Group but Mr Woyome said it was incorrect and it is on record that the former President Kufuor as the process was on-going travelled to China, met the Ghanaian Ambassador to China for the contract.

“My Lord, the contract is signed without the Shanghai Construction Group visiting Ghana,” he added.

He said it was an instruction from the President of the Republic to the Ambassador in China.

Mr Woyome is standing trial for defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss to the state.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is on a 20 million Ghana cedis bail. The court adjourned the case to November 13.