‘Secret Letter’ On Woyome To Prez. Mills

Confidential Document Attached To ‘Secret Letter’ On Woyome To Prez. Mills

…FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS IN THE MATTER OF ALFRED AGBESI WOYOME BY RAY SMITH OF M-POWAPAK/AUSTRO-INVEST (Part One)

NB: Published below is Part One of the 10-page ‘confidential document’ from the M-Powapak Boss to President Mills.

“I understand that this is currently of interest or importance to the Government since it is a potential source of embarrassment to the Party which must be dealt with.

In view of the fact that I and my wife have had years of contact with Woyome I believe that I can provide useful information. I will be as brief as possible to give some insight as to the character of this person and also to correct issues which he obviously interpreted wrongly during his various statements in the media.

*1. Mrs. Smith is and was the Consultant to the Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy, then in Lagos.

She received a request from such to follow up a matter involving Mr. Woyome and this resulted in an interview with him in Jan./February 2001. In the course of conversation it become apparent that Mr. Woyome had an interest in assisting the development of Ghana through infrastructural projects. And this interest coincided with our own.

When we met Mr. Woyome in February 2001 he complained that he had just formed a company with a Ghanaian businessman. It was a cleaning company situated in GBC-towers but his partner cheated on him and he wanted to withdraw.

He was driving a very old car and was mostly accompanied by his brother, Kobby Woyome. He obviously was embarrassed about the condition of his car and explained that he needed such car as disguise as his work does not permit him to drive a new car.

*2. Well before we met Mr. Woyome we, the Smiths, had been instrumental in introducing an Austrian Health-care company to provide Regional Hospitals with concessionary finance provided by the Austrian Government. After parliamentary approval the supply contracts were signed in December 1999.

Following this we were introduced to H.E. The President Atta Mills, at the time Vice-President, and he kindly arranged for us to present development possibilities in a meeting of the State Council.

As I recall this was some 3 months before Government changed hands in 2000.

*3. Our relationship with Mr. Woyome developed into a friendship since he appeared to be a very genuine person with a passion to support Ghana’s social and economic development. He gave every indication that he was a trustworthy person.

On this basis we worked together very well for a long time.

*4. ISSUES REGARDING THE AUSTRIAN CONSULATE: Mrs. Smith as Hon. Consul of Austria was with time overloaded with the volume of work to be done and in the year 2004 it was recognized that a Hon. Vice-Consul was necessary to ease the burden on her and she was requested to find a suitable person for such a position.

It was impossible to find a suitable Austrian National for this position or a fluent German-speaker with appropriate qualifications and characteristics. Mr. Woyome, although not German speaking was seen to have the right attitude towards Austrian/Ghanaian relations and therefore, provided that he could provide a suitable German-speaker, and cover his share of administration costs, he could be considered for the position of Honorary Vice-Consul.

Mrs. Smith made such a proposal which in fact was accepted by the Austrian Government. A contract was subsequently issued which Mr. Woyome accepted with all its conditions. One of the conditions which were verbally explained by a former Ambassador in Abidjan was that he must share the operating costs of the Consulate with the Hon. Consul.

Mrs. Smith agreed that he would take responsibility for the costs of the German speaking Secretary only.

It was extremely difficult to find a German-speaker. In 2005 an Austrian lady was employed. The problem was accommodation. She had no car and therefore needed to live close to the office.

When we found an accommodation it was clear that a lot of refurbishment had to be done to this property and the rent had to be paid 2 years in advance.

Mr. Woyome agreed to provide the advance payment for the rent. But every month an amount of 2 Mill. old Cedis was deducted from her salary in order to pay back the advance to Mr. Woyome.

In return, Mr. Smith agreed to refurbish the apartment. The cost was approximately 5-6,000 USD. The tenancy agreement was made into the name of our company so that if the secretary changes we would have accommodation for a new employee.

But for this investment no charges were applied and after 2 years the landlady wanted back her property without giving a refund for refurbishment.

*5. It was agreed that Mr. Woyome should concentrate on the joint project acquisition only whilst Mrs. Smith continued to do her work in the Consulate and for our company, m-Powapak Ltd.

It transpired that the agreed salary payment for the German speaking secretary did not come forward from Mr. Woyome and Mrs. Smith had to pre-finance those costs. Only eventually after difficulties and pressure did Mr. Woyome cover his essential debts. (See Attachment A to this issue from May 2008 as a response to his lawyer. Already then Mr. Woyome stated that he is “financing” the Consulate i.e. his claim which he made in the media, to “control and finance” the Austrian Consulate is absolutely false).

*6. Following his formal appointment by Austria it was found that Mr. Woyome was declaring himself as “H.E.”, Mr. A Woyome – even to a name-plate on the gate of his residence at Caprice in Accra.

Mr. Woyome was strongly advised to remove this and desist from the title since he was not entitled to be addressed as His Excellency in the position of the Hon. Vice-Consul.

This appeared to have no effect and rumor had it that he was parading himself as “His Excellency” Consul Woyome in the Volta Region where he appeared to have influence.

Also, upon his appointment it was made very clear to Mr. Woyome that as an Hon. Vice-Consul he must be seen to have no participation in Party Politics whatsoever, in accordance with his diplomatic role requirements. In hindsight it is now clear that the above were being ignored by Mr. Woyome and his position was being manipulated in favour of personal interests and ambitions.

The term of Mr. Woyome’s appointment as Honorary Vice-Consul ended on November 11, 2008 and it was not renewed by the Austrian Government.