To him, his actions are unjustifiable and wondered why some people would come to his defence.
He took a swipe at the Free Woyome Campaign Movement, a group seeking the release of Alfred Woyome, saying their protest has no merits and therefore called their bluff a mere "gimmick".
“As for those people, who are demonstrating, I mean it’s a gimmick if I may put it in that way; it’s a gimmick. And it’s absolutely beyond the bounds of human reasoning for [people] somebody to cause a heinous crime like this to the people of Ghana and a group of people; I don’t know whether they are being influenced here and there by some group of people, maybe some folks somewhere. It’s something that is unheard-of that the whole nation is talking about it and then people will just be going to show solidarity to Alfred Woyome.”, he stressed.
He dismissed any calls on the governing party to release the businessman stressing that Mr. Woyome's role in the judgment debt scandal cannot be condoned.
Ernest Owusu Bempah further issued a 7-day ultimatum to government to arrest the former Minister of Education, Betty Mould Iddrisu and Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton-Odro, for their involvement in the controversial judgment debt payment.
According to him, he smells a rat in the judgment debt deal and is calling for the heads of these officials and anyone who is indicted in the judgment debt saga.
He indicted Hon. Betty Mould and the Deputy Attorney General for complicity in the payment of a whooping sum of money to the NDC financier and should be apprehended for interrogation.
He asserted that “Betty Mould Iddrisu, the then Attorney General of the republic of Ghana [it’s part of it], Ebo Barton-Odro. They need to call those people, arrest them, investigate the issue and come out so that the whole nation will know what is happening.”
President Mills last Friday ordered for the arrest of Alfred Agbesi Woyome following an interim report delivered to him by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). The Economic and Organized Crime Office was tasked to investigate the judgment debt payment of GHC 52 million to the NDC financier which later presented an interim report to the Presidency on February 2, 2011.
The report stated that Alfred Woyome had no basis for making claims for the stipulated amount which was accorded him as judgment debt.
Alfred Woyome was arrested last Friday and sent to the Police Headquarters for further interrogation.
Chief State Attorney, Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, was also arrested for his role in the judgment debt scandal.
Ernest Owusu expressed confidence in President Mills but advised that punitive measures should be meted out to the indicted officials; otherwise the President will “rewrite his own political obituary.”
He made a frantic call for Mr. Woyome to be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Free Woyome Campaign Movement, David Tamakloe, says the arrest and detention of Alfred Woyome is unfair and therefore calls for his release.
He spoke to Xfm on the Big Bite morning show.
David Tamakloe explained that President Mills’ directive to arrest the chief suspect in the judgment debt fraud is a breach of the constitution and an infringement on his rights.
He suspiciously emphasized that the governing party has sidelined Alfred Woyome for political gains and therefore doubted the justification of the arrest last Friday.
He bemoaned the action by the police personnel to arrest and detain the businessman and therefore called for the head of every government official indicted in the judgment debt to roll.
He said if the President really upholds the rule of law, then all judgment debts should be investigated since President Mills vowed to ensure a thorough investigation is done and culprits arraigned before court.
He added that the continual detention violates the rights of Mr. Woyome and implored all Ghanaians to join the group’s campaign.
He further asked President Mills to order for an immediate release of Alfred Woyome.
Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana
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