Woyome has never been an NDC member-Sam P Yalley

Former Ghanaian Higher Commissioner to India Sam Pee Yalley says embattled businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome was never known to the party until corruption allegations against him surfaced. 

Mr Woyome was hauled before the courts for receiving 51 million Cedis in judgement debt and ordered to pay back the money to the state. He said at the time he financially “engineered” the construction of two stadia for the African Nations Cup in 2008 and the state owed him.

After more than 3 years of legal tussle with government and allegations the then Mahama led administration was not interested in collecting the money from him, Mr Woyome returns to court in October to be cross examined by the state under a different dispensation.

Former Attorney General Martin Amidu even secured judgment against him at the Supreme Court over the same allegations. He said the John Mahama led administration did not show any interest in collecting the money because some “key” personalities benefitted from the judgment debt awarded to Mr Woyome.

He has since used that as a stick to hit the party and in the run-up to the elections in 2016, called on Ghanaians to vote the NPP into power if they want the money collected for them.

Mr Woyome is expected back in court in October for a cross examination by Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame. He is expected to provide evidence one of two properties does not belong to him.   

But it appears Mr Yalley has had enough of claims that the entire NDC structure colluded with Mr Woyome to defraud the state, an accusation he said Mr Amidu continues to make.

Speaking to Citi Fm in respect of an article written by Mr. Amidu in response to one directed at him by Former Deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyer, Mr. Yalley said his compatriot should come out and name persons he suspects to have collected money from the businessman, instead of roiling all of them in the alleged rot.

“Some of us have lived our lives bringing up the NDC and Martin Amidu can’t smear us like that,” he said adding: “Because of Woyome all of us should be smear with corruption?”

According to Mr. Yalley, Mr. Woyome has never been a member of the party nor known to the hierarchy until his issues with the state emerged. He asked Martin Amidu to name anyone he has evidence was an accomplice of the businessman’s “crime” so they can defend themselves, instead of the tagging and name calling.

“Was NDC formed because of Woyome,” he asked the host. “We are formed because we believe as social democrats we have something good to offer our society.”

“It does not lie in anybody’s mouth to pontificate as if he is a saint on earth,” he added. “We are all getting scandalized especially those who are  not corrupt and incompetent.”

On the raging controversy in the party, he called for cool heads, though he admitted it is nothing new because of the propensity for people to jostle for “positions” anytime people see an opportunity to do so.

Mr Yalley said it is unfortunate for anyone to attack the party’s founder but Mr Rawlings, has been unfair to people in the party, most of whom he had publicly attacked because of disagreements.

Mr Rawlings, he explained, is someone he respects but does not idolize and therefore took exception to the attacks he poured on the late Prof. John Mills.