No problem with legal representation – Kunbour

Front Page: Daily Graphic, March 3, 2012. Story: Albert K. Salia THE Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Benjamin Kunbour, has said there is no problem with the quality of legal representation in the case in which the state is seeking to retrieve the GH¢51.2 million judgement debt paid to a businessman, Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome. The government’s legal advisor told the Daily Graphic yesterday that there was no cause for alarm in respect of who would represent the state in court. “I will be in court myself when the substantive case begins,” he said. The immediate past Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Martin Amidu, in a statement issued on February 29, 2012, had called for quality and committed legal representation for the state if it was to succeed in retrieving the judgement debt. Mr Amidu argued that the GH¢51.2 million was paid without any basis, stressing, “I believe the Republic of Ghana has an excellent case for a refund.” The state is currently in court seeking to reverse what it terms the fraudulent means which Mr Woyome allegedly used to secure a judgement debt of GH¢51.2 million from the state. Mr Amidu was relieved of his post as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice by President J. E. A. Mills for misconduct. When contacted to react to the issues raised by his predecessor, Dr Kunbour said he did not want to respond to the issues or engage in media discussions, except to say that “all the concerns are being looked into”. He explained that the seemingly low level of legal representation at the High Court on February 29, 2012 resulted from the fact that he (Kunbour) was at the Supreme Court on another issue. Moreover, the February 29, 2012 High Court case was for a ruling and not to make arguments. He said he had spoken with all the lawyers mentioned in the statement, with the exception of the Solicitor-General, Mrs Amma Gaisie, who is said to have gone to seek medicare. He was hopeful of speaking with her by the close of day yesterday to hear her side of the story before taking any firm decision or giving directives on the next line of action. Dr Kunbour said he did not want to make any pronouncements without talking to the persons mentioned or studying the concerns raised. He indicated that he would meet all the members of staff of the Civil Division of the ministry next week to look at other issues.