The Managing Director of Waterville Holdings Limited, Andrea Orlandi has dissociated the company from any involvement with Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the businessman embroiled in the controversial payment of some GH¢ 51million in judgment debt. Addressing a press conference in Accra, Mr. Orlandi indicated that Mr. Woyome was hired by the company as a Financial Engineer and for which he was paid thus ending any relationship they might have had with him adding he therefore does not understand why Mr. Woyome has been stating that he collected the money on behalf of the company. “There seems to be confusion in peoples mind bearing on the relationship between Mr. Alfred Woyome’s case and that of Waterville” he indicated adding that the matters are separate and distinct. The Waterville MD explained that M-pawopak, a firm represented by Mr. Woyome was hired for a fee by Waterville to provide financial advisory and consulting services for a limited period to assist Waterville in financing the stadia contract after which Waterville made full payment to them and terminated their services in 2006. Mr. Orlandi said Mr. Woyome had no role in the claims Waterville made to the government for reimbursement and compensation against loss. He indicated that Mr. Woyome separately and independently (of Waterville) made a claim against the government of which they have no role, nor interest. He indicated meetings were held in the Attorney General’s office in 2009 and 2010 with exchange of documents to support that position. The press conference was also to clear the air over the alleged wrongdoing by Waterville Holdings Ltd in the contracts awarded by the government to rehabilitate the Ohene Djan, El-Wak and Baba Yara Sports stadia for the hosting of the 26th Cup of African Nations tournament in Ghana in 2008. It was also to dispel the campaign of lies that have been waged against the company which has unjustly tarnished its image. According to Mr. Orlandi, Waterville through an open, fair and international bidding process won a contract to rehabilitate two stadia, and construct two new stadia. One was later added to bring the number to five stadia. He said the company proceeded immediately to prefinance the start and rehabilitation of the stadia since the time frame given them to complete the work was so short and could not wait for government to give them any money. After procuring materials and equipment to start the project, he said, government decided to cancel its contract obligations with Waterville in August 2006. The company then made an immediate claim for reimbursement of what they had spent so far. Government valued the work they had done and paid them in bits after a series of dialogues till they cleared the entire bill. “There has been nothing illegal or improper about Waterville’s decision on competing for, executing or laying claims for cancellation of the contract” Mr. Orlandi stressed.