Embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome has disclosed that he has so far paid an amount of GHc 4.5 million from the GHc 51 million received as judgement debt.
Mr. Woyome has been in court with the state since 2012 for receiving the amount in a default judgement in 2010, and efforts to retrieve the money has been ongoing since the time.
The money has been a major campaign tool and ahead of the 2012 and 2016 elections, the then opposition NPP promised it will get the money back to the state.
The state therefore filed a case at the Supreme Court for the businessman to be for the first time orally examined by state prosecutors. Deputy Attorney General Godfred Dame, who crossed examined him, gave indication properties of his would be examined to offset the remaining debt owed to the state.
Mr Woyome himself disclosed he had not done any meaningful work since 2012 and therefore asked to be given time to go on with a payment plan.
But following a warrant from the court, armed military men stormed various properties suspected to be his, in order to undertake a valuation with the intention of putting it up on the market for auction, should he fail to pay back the money.
However, he was enraged by the decision and called on President AKufo-Addo to rein in his men, since he did not come to power through military rule.
“Alfred Woyome has not refused and will not refuse the order of the court, he said in an interview. “Nana Addo did not win elections to rule this country under coup d’etat and should ensure everyone is protected.â€
Mr Woyome reaffirmed his commitment to respect the courts but expects the same judiciary to respect his constitutional right, instead of the impression being created he does not respect the ruling.
According to him, officers who stormed one of his properties pointed a gun to the head of his wife, a situation which compelled him to ask them to pull the trigger, if that is how they were going to collect the money from him.