Court grants stay of proceedings in Woyome cross – examination case

The Supreme Court has granted a temporal stay of proceedings on businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome cross-examination by former Attorney General Martin Amidu over the GH₵ 51.2 million judgement debt.

The court upheld Woyome’s request to enable a three- member panel to be constituted to hear the review of his application compelling him to be cross examined.

According to the Court it was vital for the proceeding before it to be put on hold as the application for review may have some impact on the cross examination.

It therefore adjourned the matter to December 15 pending hearing of the application for review.

Before arguing on the application for stay of proceedings Woyome’s lawyer, Mr Ken Anku drew the court attention to the fact that he had filed supplementary affidavit.

Mr Anku told the court that if the application for stay was granted it would not bring about any injustice as the application was temporary.

According to him granting of the stay of proceeding would ensure fairness, justice, equity and common sense as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Amidu who represented himself relied on his processes filed but lamented over how he was short served with Woyome’s supplementary affidavit.

According to Mr Amidu, Woyome did not deserve to be granted application for stay of proceedings although the application to stay of proceeding was at the discretion of the court.

Mr Amidu disagreed with Woyome’s counsel assertion that stay of proceedings was his client’s constitutional rights as such it should be granted by the court.

He recounted that Woyome since July 29, 2014, after the apex court of the land had declared that he should pay the money he had failed and was in court saying his Constitutional rights had been violated.

“This is a person who has no respect for the Constitution and he is saying his right had been waved. He would not suffer any hardship if the application was refused rather he was delaying payment to the state.”

Mr Amid said: “Woyome’s hands are dirty because he is holding state money. He ought not come to the court to ask for mercy.”

The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Woyome to pay the GH₵ 51.2million judgment debt.

Mr Amidu proceeded to court to grant him the opportunity to cross examine Woyome over the money he received as judgement debt and the Court obliged him on November 16, through its ruling.

Woyome however filed for review of the decision of the Justice Anor Yeboah compelling him to be quizzed.

He also stayed of proceedings pending hearing of the review at the Supreme Court.