Osafo Maafo grilled over Woyome case

Lawyers of Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the businessman involved in the GH¢51.2 million judgment debt payment, on Monday grilled for a long time Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Minister of Education and Sports during the trial at the Accra Fast Track High Court.

Cross-examined by Mr Osafo Buabeng, a member of Woyome’s legal team, Mr Osafo Maafo said VAMED and M-Powapak were provided a turn-key project by which they had to source for funding and build the Sekondi and Tamale stadia.

Woyome is on trial for defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss to the State. He has pleaded not guilty and granted a GH¢20 million bail with three sureties to be justified.

Mr Osafo Buabeng, who tendered in evidence six different documents, however, insisted that the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration bypassed the procurement procedures to award a new contract to a Chinese company, Shangai.

He said VAMED and M-Powapak were in line to be awarded the contract but the then government stampeded the process and brought in Shangai.

Defence counsel disputed the claim by Mr Osafo Maafo that the Government by awarding the contract to the Chinese company saved the country about $100 million.

Mr Osafo Maafo, however, insisted Cabinet under the NPP Administration took the decision in the best interest of the country.

He said VAMED and M-Powapak failed to meet the condition precedent of providing funds for the project, which forced government to look elsewhere, and government wrote to VAMED and M-Power Pack to terminate the tender process and not contract because there was no contract to begin with.

Mr Osafo Maafo explained that Waterville, which the accused claimed was part of VAMED and M-Powapak for the bidding process was nowhere in the tendering process with regard to the Sekondi and Tamale stadia.

He said even though the Government dealt with Waterville it was only in respect of the rehabilitation of the Accra and Kumasi stadia.

Mr Justice John Ajet-Nassam, the trial judge, subsequently adjourned the case to  July 25.

Source: GNA