[2018]DLCA4481 • March 8, 2018 • Court of Appeal
ALFRED AGBESI WOYOME vs. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
The appellant, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, was involved in a judgment debt case where the Government of Ghana paid him a substantial sum following a default judgment for financial engineering costs related to government contracts. A Commission of Inquiry was established under Constitutional Instrument CI 79 to investigate inordinate payments from public funds, including Woyome's case. The Commission found the payment to Woyome to be inordinate and fraudulent, attributing wrongdoing to him and certain public officials. Woyome challenged these adverse findings, alleging breach of natural justice as he was not given a hearing before the Commission made its findings against him.
read moreAGYEMANG JA: On the 8th day of October 2012 the President of the Republic of Ghana in the exercise of his power under Article 278 (1) (a) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, set up per a Constitutional Instrument CI 79, the Commission of Inquiry Into Payments From Public Funds Arising From Judgment Debts And Akin Matters. Justice Yaw Appau JA (as he then was) was appointed its Sole Commissioner. The terms of reference of the Commission were: a) To ascertain the causes of any inordinate payments made from public funds in satisfaction of judgment debts since the 1992 Constitution came into force; b) To ascertain the causes of any inordinate payments from public funds and financial losses arising from arbitration awards, negotiated settlements and akin processes since the 1992 Constitution came into force, and c) To make recommendations to the Government for ensuring that as far as practicable i. The instances where public funds are utilised to make payments in satisfaction ...