Woyome wins round 1 @ PAC

… As Kan Dapaah, Agyeman Manu recuse themselves

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Kan Dapaah has adjourned the hearing of the embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome after he failed to give evidence on the controversial GH¢51m judgment debt paid him.

The decision counsel for Mr. Woyome argued that the issues that were going to be discussed are the same pending before Court and would be improper to discuss those issues before the committee.

Counsel for Mr. Woyome added that there is clear evidence that the cabinet of the erstwhile Kufuor administration that terminated Mr. Woyome's contract leading to the judgment debt involved the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Kan Dapaah and Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, a member of the committee and stated that there was the likelihood that the Chairman would be bias in his questioning.

Other members of the committee including John Tia stated that the issues being raised by the Counsel of Mr Woyome were right and called for the suspension of the committee for further consultations on the matter.

The deputy Attorney General, Anthony Gyambiby also stated that the Attorney General’s office had decided not to be part of the hearing because the matter to be discussed was before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals and it was not appropriate to be discussed anywhere else or would amount to contempt of Court.

Mr. Kan Dapaah in his ruling stated “the attorney general can advise the committee but not direct it. Reading Article 127 clause 2, we hear that no one should interfere with judges, judicial officers, or anyone exercising judicial power, but I fail to see how our investigation interferes with the work of any judge. I am unable to accept the advice that we stop on that account. I will accordingly rule that Mr. Woyome tell us his story with good conscience with the help of his lawyers”.

He also stated that he is willing to make Hon. Isaac Asiamah take his position as Chairman during the next hearing to avoid the issue of him being bias.

“Regarding the issue of me presiding on the case with an eye to my alleged bias, I am willing to allow someone to take my place. I assume my vice chairman, also a member of Kufuor’s cabinet, will not be acceptable. Asiamah should chair the committee at the next hearing".

He however insisted that the hearing must continue at an appropriate date so that the committee will not prepare a half baked report to the people of Ghana on the controversial judgment debt saga.

“I will accordingly rule that Mr. Woyome tell us his story with good conscience and the help of his lawyers… This committee is not embarking on a judicial investigation and Woyome is not a defendant here, he is a witness. If a witness appears before the committee, he has the right to Counsel and the right not to engage in self-incrimination. How can we do our job when material witnesses do not testify? The people of Ghana do not deserve the half baked reports that would come out of such processes.

“The committee will adjourn at this stage, thank you. I now discharge Mr. Woyome and the Officers from the Attorney Generals Department and the Ministry of Finance” at this stage, thank you”.