NDC tried to 'let Woyome off the hook' - Kofi Bentil

The Vice President of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did everything possible to prevent businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome from paying the GH¢51 million he owes the state.

He said because Woyome was a onetime financier of the NDC, the party protected him while they were in power.

“As someone who followed this very closely, the NDC did everything that was possible to let Mr Woyome off the hook. They protected him in every way possible.”

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Bentil expressed disappointment in the erstwhile NDC government for allowing Woyome determine his own payment plan..

He urged the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to be more serious in retrieving the money.

“I expect the current government to be more serious in trying to retrieve the money from Mr Woyome. I expect the current government not to allow Mr Woyome walk around as free as he is. I’m not saying anyone should assault him, but he should be put under considerable pressure so that he finds it necessary to pay our money than to keep telling us when he will pay and how much he will pay and keep running around as if he has an option not to pay us.”

“He has a certain attitude and I think that comes from his assurance that the previous government was going to support him. I think the attitude of this government should be such that Mr Woyome feels that he owes something to Ghanaians and he is prepared to pay otherwise he can expect that he will not have a comfortable stay in this country.”

He was quick to add that he expects the current government to use every legal means available in retrieving the money.

This matter of retrieving the judgement debt came up again after former President John Mahama urged his successor to do all within his means to retrieve the money.

He said the NDC government did its best to retrieve the said money.

President Mahama said this on Thursday when he granted an interview with Power FM, a South African-based radio station.