Judgement Debt Commission summons Attorney-General’s Department
The Judgement Debt Commission has summoned the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Department to answer why it did not enter an appearance in the case in which P&N Construction and Wood Company Limited was awarded GH¢313,907.74 judgement debt in 2008.
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The Ministry of Roads and Highways has also been directed by the commission to provide documents relating to the contract awarded to P&N Construction, which culminated in the payment of the judgement debt.
Facts of case
P&N Construction is said to have been given a contract to do surfacing on the roads in the Afia Kobi Girls’ Senior High School and another contract for the surfacing of roads at Ankaase, both in the Ashanti Region.
When the case was called yesterday, counsel for the commission, Mr Dometi Kofi Sorkpor, said the construction company commenced the project but stopped midway, a situation which discouraged the authorities from effecting payment.
He said P&N Construction went to court to seek judgement debt payment, but the A-G’s Department "did not enter any appearance".
He said the court gave judgement based on the demand of P&N Construction on June 5, 2008.
He said the A-G Department could have won the case if it had entered appearance because the contractor had not completed the project.
"He went to the court alone. There was no opposition and the court awarded the cost," Mr Sorkpor said.
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The A-G’s Department could not appear before the commission yesterday as requested by the commission.
The Sole Commissioner of the Judgement Debt Commission, Mr Justice Yaw Apau, said officials of the A-G’s Department had written to the commission that they could not make an appearance because of circumstances beyond their control.
He indicted that it was crucial for the A-G to answer why it did not contest the demand for the judgement debt payment to the construction company when it could have saved the money to the state.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Roads and Transport too could not appear before the commission yesterday to provide documents relating to the contract.
The ministry had also written to the commission that the chief director would not be available.
Consequently, the commission adjourned the case to April 15, 2014 for the A-G’s Department and the Ministry of Roads and Transport to make appearances.