NPP Running Away From Economic and Organized Crime Office
By Margaret Jackson
It is a known fact that on April 26, 2006, the Government of Ghana entered into an agreement with Waterville Holdings, of which Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman, was the front man, for the rehabilitation of the Accra, Kumasi and the El-Wak Sports Stadia for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008) football tournament.
It is also truthful to say that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) headed by then President Kufour went against procurement procedures and asked Waterville to start demolition, excavation and clearing works on the three sites on February 6, 2006, even before the said contract award was formalized.
You will not be far from right if you state that for some unknown reasons which only former President Kufour, Serial Contract Terminator (SCT) can explain, the contract was suspiciously abrogated rendering the work that has been done by Waterville useless. Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, then Sports Minister, sent a memorandum to the Kufour’s cabinet strongly advising against the illegal abrogation of the contract. But his wise sage fell on deaf years as Kufour re-awarded the contract to the sub-contractors of the project. You will have to know that at the time of the criminal abrogation of the contract, Waterville had assembled for work at all the three stadia; therefore, Kufour contracted Building Industry Consultants to value the work that had so far been done by Waterville.
Waterville, which was not happy with the unlawful cancellation of the contract by the Kufour administration, sued the Government of Ghana to seek redress and compensation. In 2010, a High Court which went through the merits and demerits of the case, ordered the State to pay an amount of GH¢42 million in judgment debt to Mr. Woyome for the illegal termination of his contract by former President Kufour. And according to the Daily Graphic edition of Saturday January 14, 2012, the office of the Auditor General has confirmed that out of the GH¢42 million awarded to Woyome only GH¢17 million has been paid to him so far making the noise being propagated by the NPP useless. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the simple truth about the Woyome saga that is being heightened daily by the NPP to score cheap political points against the NDC ruling government.
When the current uproar gathered steam, President John Evans Atta Mills, in other to put the matter to rest and let the whole world know the truth concerning how the contract was awarded, why and who caused the abrogation and how Ghana had to cough 42 Million Cedis in judgment debt, directed the country’s Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the issue.
The directive by President Mills to the EOCO to investigate the matter and bring to book any underhand dealers in the issue should have been a welcome relief to everyone especially the NPP people who think Waterville and to a large extent Woyome does not deserve the judgment debt and that something illegal may have gone on. But the so-called pillars of democracy, the rule of law, the protectors of our Constitution, and the champions of the independence of the judiciary are running for cover. Beware of what you wish for, because there is this famous quote by one of the Ashanti Kings, Kofi Karikari who stated that “You wish for war, now you have it.”
The EOCO, which has started the investigations, thought it prudent to invite the players in the saga to unravel the truth for all Ghanaians to know. But Yaw Osafo Maafo, who labels himself as “Osadeeyo”, was the first to run for cover. Mr. Osafo Maafo sensing danger about being exposed on his role in the saga has filed a court injunction to immune him from appearing before the EOCO. And in a childish explanation on radio, Osafo Maafo’s lawyer, Godfred Odame, got the nerve to inform Ghanaians that his client is refusing to appear before the EOCO, because he has issues with the process the entire investigation is taking, adding that the executive arm of government, “Should not be the one to call for an investigation into the matter.” If the government cannot call for an investigation into the matter, then who should? Is it the opposition NPP, the Malata Market woman, the taxi driver or Godfrey Odame? This is the most bizarre line of argument of the century by someone who calls himself a lawyer. Truly wonders shall never end!
To add insult to injury, Godfrey Odame stated that “due process must be followed” to respect the rule of law, the usual refrain by all NPP people especially their so-called stomach lawyers. The simple question is, if an investigation is not done to ascertain the facts about an issue how do we follow the due process and respect the rule of law? If Osafo Maafo has nothing to hide, why is he seeking immunity from being questioned? If he thinks he is not guilty of anything, why has he chickened out. Look, this is where I blame the so-called journalists and writers like Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh who himself is a lawyer. Did Boadu-Ayeboafoh not find the reasons given by Osafo Maafo in refusing to appear before the EOCO strange and unwarranted to comment on it in his column of Thursday January 12, 2012? Trust me if this statement had come from an NDC member, Boadu-Ayeboafoh would surely have nailed the person right there.
Dr. Kofi Amoah, a former Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the 2008 Nations Cup, who was also invited to appear before the EOCO has also chickened out, fearing that some skeletons would be exposed. And yet, the champions of democracy and the fiercely defenders of the rule of law in Ghana, the NPP, quickly held a press conference supporting the boycott of the EOCO by its members. Their Communications Director, Nana Akomea stated that the NPP will rather comply with a public investigation into the Woyome matter, and not one to be done in camera. The press conference followed a similar statement made by National Chairman of the NPP, Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, who stated publicly that no member of the party will cooperate with investigations into the Woyome saga if the probe is handled by the EOCO.
But Mr. Mortey Akpaji, the Executive Director of the EOCO, has stated categorically that his outfit will not dabble in politics, but only investigate alleged acts of criminality in the controversial Woyome saga. This assurance from the EOCO boss, however, does not suit the NPP mantra of spewing lies and garbage but only chicken out when the facts are about to unravel. They in fact, always want to eat their cake and at the same time have it. They claim they respect the rule of law, but always break the law with impunity when it suits them.
I cannot agree more with Constitutional Lawyer and Political Scientist, Mr. Osei Kwadwo, who has warned of a serious repercussion if the judiciary grants the immunity request by Osafo Maafo and Dr. Amoah. In fact this sensible lawyer was bold enough to state that granting such a request will set a dangerous precedent that may in future jeopardize the country’s Constitution. He was also of the view that if Osafo Maafo has nothing to hide, why is he seeking immunity to testify? Osadeeyo, why are you running away? And who are you running away from?
The Founder and Leader of the United Renaissance Party, Mr. Kofi Wayo, also boomed that same sentiments by Mr. Osei Kwadwo by wondering why the NPP party, which wants to rule Ghana and apply the law to the letter, is blatantly flouting the same laws that governs the country with its refusal to allow its members to appear before the EOCO. Kofi Wayo, as usual, was very emphatic that no one in Ghana is above the law, and the NPP is not an exception and that the NPP is setting a bad example with its refusal to cooperate with the EOCO. Mr. Wayo also said something which I totally agree with; that the NPP men who have refused to appear before the EOCO should be arrested. They cannot determine what the government should do about this case. If they have nothing to hide they should come and tell us what they know and do not know about the Woyome chronicle.
The NDC should not relent in turning the tide against the NPP. The NDC Communication team should be all out talking about this unending story. The NDC should put pressure on the NPP to turn its members in to face the EOCO and let the whole country know what may have gone wrong in the Woyome tale. Ghanaians should open their eyes and see if the NPP is the party, which wants to rule them come January 2013. The NPP is truly letting Ghanaians know that they are the breakers of law and not the protectors. I bet you the NPP is running away from the EOCO because Kufour, a.k.a. SCT and others may be implicated and seriously embarrass the NPP if their members appear before the EOCO.
The NDC should not sleep. They should shout. They should endeavour to keep this matter alive and let Ghanaians know the true colours and intentions of the NPP. The NDC should beat the drums and make noise! They should let Ghanaians know that the so-called pillars of democracy and the rule of law are running away from justice. The NDC should shout on the roof tops and let Ghanaians know that the NPP does not play by the rules but do selective justice and that they pick and chose on issues that favours them. The NDC should talk and not keep silent! They should keep talking over this matter until the NPP learn to respect the rule of law when the tide is against them. The NPP called for this current situation, therefore, they cannot run away from it. Enough of their nonsense and bluff!
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