JUDGE NOT HAPPY ON SLOW TRIAL OF WOYOME

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba

The trial judge in the civil case against Mr. Alfred Woyome, on the controversial GHC51.2million judgement debt saga at the Commercial High Court, yesterday expressed her displeasure about the seemly slow space of trial on the matter by the state prosecution.

 Justice Babara Ackah- Yensu,(Mrs.)  the trial judge said, but for the interest of justice for the people of Ghana , she would have struck out the case for want of prosecution.

According to her, it was so disturbing that, the case which has travelled since 2010 was yet to see the end and tail of it and urged both the defence and the prosecution to expedite action on the matter.

The judge’s displeasure remarks followed the absence of the state prosecutor in court when the case was called for hearing.

Mrs.  Grace Afriyie Ansah, a senior state Attorney who has been prosecuting the case was absent due to ill health and sent a letter with a medical report requesting for five days’ adjournment.

The defence counsel, Mr. Safo Buabeng, told the court that, the defence has received a letter from the Attorney General office, requesting that the case be adjourn to enable the prosecutor who is currently indisposed to return in a week time.

However, before adjourning the case, the presiding judge, Mrs. Justice Babara Ackah-Yensu said, it was so disturbing that, the case which commenced in 2010 was still not getting to an end and proceeding seems not to be progressing and urged both parts to expedite action on the matter.

She also confirmed receiving a letter from the Attorney General office that the prosecutor was ill and needed five days to recover.

The state has filed a writ at the commercial court in 2010, seeking the court among others to reverse the GHC51.2 million judgement debts paid to the defendant, Mr. Woyome, to the state.

According to the Attorney General, the defendant has obtained the consent judgement against the state through fraudulent means and that further investigation has revealed otherwise on the claims by the defendant,

According to the statement of claim by the Attorney General, the defendant, Mr. Woyome was not entitle to the judgement debt payment, but was dully paid upon using fraud means to claims that he had had contract with the state and needed to be paid.

Aspect of the civil case is also pending at the Court of Appeal, following a ruling the Commercial High Court had granted to the state to file its amended writ and statement of claims.

The case has been adjourned to June 26, this year for continuation.

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