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The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has unanimously dismissed a case filed by beleaguered businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, against the state.
The court said Woyome’s right to non-discrimination, right to equalilty before the law, equal protection before the law and his right to be heard by an impartial tribunal had all not been violated.
Mr Woyome went to the ACHPR in January 2017 in response to the judgement of the Supreme Court of Ghana on July 29, 2014 that ordered him to pay the GH¢51.2m on the grounds that he got the money out of unconstitutional and invalid contracts between the state and Waterville Holdings Limited in 2006 for the construction of stadia for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2008.
That was after his numerous attempts to stop the state from retrieving the money had been thrown out by the law courts in Ghana.
Mr Woyome alleged in his application that the manner in which he was ordered to repay the money violated his rights under the ACHPR Charter.
I’ll pay if I lose
In an interview on Accra-based radio station, Joy FM, Mr Woyome said he would cooperate if he loses the case at the ACHPPR.
“I am ready to sit with government and schedule this” he said and stressed he has never been unwilling to pay. “Debtors must also eat”, he paraphrased a popular local proverb.
He said all of government’s effort to find his properties and sell them off will not be needed if he loses.
“I will bring a payment plan”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the sale of Mr Womyome’s assets to defray the GH¢47.2 million debt he owes the state.
Assets to be sold include two mansions at Trassaco Estate, a house at Kpehe where he resides, an office complex of Anator Holdings, residential building at Abelemkpe and a stone quarry in the Eastern Region including its plants and equipment.
Source: Graphic Online
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