The Supreme Court has directed government to purchase some properties belonging to businessman Alfred Woyome rather than just taking ownership.

Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame had in an application urged the Apex court to allow the state to take ownership after failure by an auctioneer to sell them to offset a ¢51.2million debt the businessman owes the state.

Potential buyers were reportedly said to be afraid of purchasing the properties because they feel those properties may be restored to Mr. Woyome in the future.

Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, made this known in a letter dated March 4, 2020, and addressed to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The letter made reference to the Supreme Court’s order to have the properties of Mr. Woyome auctioned to settle judgment debt.

It would be recalled that in July 2019, after three years of legal joggling over the true ownership of properties in the case involving the businessman and National Democratic Congress (NDC) bankroller Mr. Woyome, the Supreme Court ordered the auctioning of the assets to defray the GH¢47.2 million debt he owes the state.

A five-member panel presided over by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah on Wednesday stated that the application by the AG’s office is not allowed by the rules of court.

Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, therefore, withdrew the application as the court directed that the state purchased them.

The court also took notice of a case filed by Mr. Woyome at the High Court seeking to block the auction.

The court said the application undermines the authority of the Apex court as it put that matter on hold.