The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by businessman Alfred Woyome seeking to halt the sale of his properties by the state.
Mr.Woyome filed his case arguing that the state's purchase of his properties was not done in accordance with the law.
Mr.Woyome argued that there are some underhand dealings which to him constitute enough basis for the transaction to be declared null and void.
Alfred Woyome further disclosed that he owns land in the Volta region worth $15.5 million, an amount which was far in excess of the debt he owes the state and prayed the court to replace the land with his properties.
The Judges however dismissed the case explaining that the suit lacked merit. Background In July 2014, the supreme court ordered Mr.Woyome to refund GHC51.2 million to the state on the basis that the manner in which he obtained the money went contrary to the constitution.
The payments to Mr.Woyome were in respect of contracts between the state and Waterville Holdings Limited in the construction of stadia for the 2008 African cup of Nations held in Ghana.
The supreme court gave the Attorney General permission to sell the properties belonging to Mr.Woyome to offset part of the GhC47 million he owes the state.
Following delays in retrieving the money, the Supreme court Judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court's Judgement ordering Mr.Woyome to refund the cash to the state.
The ruling followed claims made by the Receivers of defunct UT Bank that some of the properties identified by the state for sale were theirs.
The lawyers of the defunct Bank had argued that Mr.Woyome used the properties as collateral for loans he took at the Bank which he eventually defaulted in paying.
Story by RodneyTsenuokpor
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