Former president Jerry John Rawlings criticised state prosecutors for their sloppy handling of businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome’s Gh¢51.2 million judgement debt case, resulting in his acquittal and discharge.
The prolonged legal battle concluded on Thursday in an Accra High Court, with Judge John Ajet-Nassam ruling that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to implicate the prominent National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier.
Woyome left the courtroom a free man after the judge cleared him of charges related to causing financial loss to the state and defrauding by false pretence.
The judge expressed doubts about the prosecution’s case, particularly noting their failure to produce key witnesses, Betty Mould-Iddrisu and Ebo Barton Oduro, who held positions of attorney general and deputy, respectively, at the time the judgement debt was paid.
Rawlings, who described Woyome as a “thief,” is unhappy about the outcome of the case, adding that Ghanaians are “not serious” when it comes to the “fight against corruption.”.
“This is the extent of corruption I keep talking about. I just read that they have freed the thief called [Alfred] Woyome. Why, because his accomplices [Betty Mould-Iddrisu and one other] in government were not produced in court for interrogation to provide vital evidence to incriminate him,” the ex-military leader told the family of one Isaac Tetteh when they called on him at his residence to inform him about the death of their loved one.
He added: “Because his collaborators were untouched, he was also freed. The rot in government keeps aggravating. The Attorney General had let loose the collaborators so how can Woyome be prosecuted?
“We are not serious! Is that how to fight corruption? They are rather holding key positions in the party. Are we so stupid? What is wrong with our support base, can’t they observe what is going on?”
Meanwhile, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu told Starr News on the eve of Thursday’s ruling that she did nothing untoward in the payment of the judgement debt to Mr Woyome.