Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the businessman at the centre of the GH¢51.2 million judgement debt saga, will today mount the witness box to open his defence at the Economic and Financial Division of the Accra High Court.
Woyome had his application of 'no case' dismissed by the court, presided over by Mr Justice John Ajet-Nassam, last Wednesday, May 30, 2014.
Charges
The embattled National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier is facing charges of defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss to the state in the trial that has been ongoing for more than two years.
He obtained a GH¢51.2 million judgement debt payment, but the state contends that the payment was procured fraudulently.
He has pleaded not guilty and is currently on bail.
Prosecution’s case
Woyome, according to state prosecutors, made a false representation in February 2010 that the government owed him money for his services of providing financial engineering for the rehabilitation of the Kumasi, Accra and El-Wak stadia, ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations.
The submission of ‘no case’ was announced in court in February by Mr Osafo Boabeng, lead counsel for Woyome, immediately after the prosecution, led by Mathew Amponsah, had informed the court that the prosecution had closed its case.
Woyome's argument
In the submission of 'no case', Woyome had argued that the state had not made out its case against him and, therefore, he had no case to answer.
The state presented nine witnesses, including Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, a Minister of Education and Sports in the Kufuor administration.
“I will tell it all”
Immediately after his application was thrown out by the court, Woyome, in an interview with journalists, said the court hearing would be an opportunity for him to tell the public what had happened from the beginning to the end.
"I think this opportunity which has come today will give me a courtroom opportunity to be able to tell the good people of this country about what happened from the beginning.
“So I think I thank God for today and I thank God who has led me throughout these two and a half years of something that has been prolonged deliberately or whatever it is.
“Then Ghanaians will understand and take a cue from me that no matter the situation, the Constitution of this country must be protected and each individual must stand firm,” he stated.
He added that he would ensure that his legal team helped “to quicken the story to the Ghanaian people because Ghanaians need to understand what happened and the politics behind it”.
SOURCE: DAILY GRAPHIC
