�I Sourced �1.2 Billion For CAN 2008� - Woyome

Alfred Agbesi Woyome, a businessman, on Monday told the Fast Track High Court that he sourced over 1.2 billion euros as 85 per cent funding requirement for government in the CAN 2008 projects. He said the 15 per cent of the remaining funding was to be a grant, which was approved by the financial sub-committee of the bid process. Mr Woyome was being cross-examined by Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Chief State Attorney in Accra on Monday. When asked who signed the agreement between M-Power pack and Waterville holdings, he said there were several agreements signed but he signed one witnessed by one Raymond Smith. Mrs Obuobisa put it to the accused person that he was the one who received the 3.6 million euros, which Mr Woyome agreed but explained that the payment was not related to government. The state prosecutor again asked whether the 3.6 million euros covered financial engineering for El-wak, Baba Yara and Accra sport stadia but he said it was incorrect and explained that the payment was not the one he sought from Government. �The payment from government is about the annulled bid, which received concurrent approval,� he added. When asked to list other projects he claimed were included in the CAN 2008 projects, Mr Woyome said they included 10 regional stadia, five regional hospitals, 800-bed National Accident and Emergency Centre. He said even though there were others not included in the expression of interest advertised in the dailies, the government and the financiers agreed to include them to make Ghana the hub of sports tourism. Mrs Obuobisa also asked Mr Woyome who contracted him to provide designs for the projects and he said the government through the Local Organising Committee (IOC) and the Ministries of Youth and Sport and Finance did. She asked that per the accused persons own exhibits, he was fully paid for the design. Mr Woyome agreed but said he went to court and obtained a default judgment in his favour for those not paid for. Mr Woyome said the outstanding claims he took from government had been supported by certificates from the IOC and Waterville. Mr Woyome is standing trial for defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss to the state. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is on a GH₵ 20 million bail. The court, presided over by Mr Justice John Ajet-Nasam adjourned the case to November 5.