PAC to subpoena Alfred Woyome

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament says it will not hesitate to subpoena businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome to appear before it to answer questions relating to the controversial 51 million cedis judgment debt paid him by government.

According to PAC, it will go ahead with the subpoena if its legal committee gives it the green light.

Woyome and his lawyers in a letter on Monday declined to appear before the committee after they had been billed to appear.

According to Woyome’s lawyers the case is already in court and will therefore amount to a contempt of court if another body should commence hearing into it.

But speaking to XYZ News, Vice chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Kwaku Agyemang Manu noted that the committee has the powers of a high court and can compel any individual to appear before it.

He however noted that evidence giving by a respondent who appear before the committee cannot be used against the individual in any hearing.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Integrity Initiative has described as unfortunate the inability of Woyome and his lawyers to appear before the public accounts committee.

In interview with XYZ News, a legal officer at the Ghana Integrity Initiative George Amoh said Woyome could have appeared for the committee without committing himself to any liability.**