A civil society organisation, Centre for National Affairs is demanding an immediate disclosure of the steps government is taking to recover monies illegally paid to Waterville and Isofoton. In a statement signed by the Assistant Executive Director, Rocky Obeng, the Centre believes a comprehensively published recovery plan will be in fulfillment of government's own promise of transparency and accountability to the people. The statement follows a recent Supreme Court ruling in which Waterville and Isofoton were asked by judges of the Supreme Court to refund monies illegally paid to them in judgement debts. The two companies, as well as business man Alfred Woyome were dragged to court by former Attorney General Martin Amidu over allegations they benefited illegally from judgement debts. Amidu argued the entities and Woyome had no legitimate claim against the state and did not deserve a penny. Waterville was paid in excess of € 20,000 whilst Isofoton was also paid a little over $400,000. The court ruled in favour of Amidu and directed Waterville and Isofoton to pay back the monies illegally paid them. The court stayed a decision on Woyome because the case was still pending at the High Court. Several weeks after the court ruling, there is no clear indication as to what steps the Attorney General's Department is taking to retrieve the monies. CNA insists time is running out and government must inform the public on the steps it is taking o retrieving the monies. "The integrity of the claims processes relating to the Walterville and Isofoton Judgment Debts Ruling given on the 14th and 21st of June respectively by the Supreme Court may be in serious doubt if government does not open the entire recovery processes up to the public," the statement said. " With this publication, we hope government takes steps immediately to clarify the following important issues relating to the specific cases of Walterville and Isofoton Judgment debts recovery; What is the total amount government intends to receive from Walterville and Isofoton since there were conflicting media reports regarding the amount. Some media houses reported 25 million Euros and others put it at 40 Million Euros. The Content of the Judgment suggests otherwise and not many people have access to that document (the Court’s Ruling). Government is hereby requested to clarify this very important issue," the statement added. The following is the full statement Heading: Make Walterville, Isofoton Judgment Debts Recovery Processes Transparent The Attorney-General’s Department must publish the debt recovery plan and the steps it has taken so far to retrieve monies as directed by the Supreme Court. The integrity of the claims processes relating to the Walterville and Isofoton Judgment Debts Ruling given on the 14th and 21st of June respectively by the supreme court may be in serious doubt if government does not open the entire recovery processes up to the public. State departments and agencies must endeavour to be transparent when dealing with matters of public interest. The public has not been officially and properly briefed by the Attorney-General’s Department about government’s recovery plans relating to the landmark Supreme Court ruling involving Walterville and Isofoton on one hand and Mr Martin Amidu on the other hand. With this publication, we hope government takes steps immediately to clarify the following important issues relating to the specific cases of Walterville and Isofoton Judgment debts recovery; What is the total amount government intends to receive from Walterville and Isofoton since there were conflicting media reports regarding the amount. Some media houses reported 25 million Euros and others put it at 40 Million Euros. The Content of the Judgment suggests otherwise and not many people have access to that document (the Court’s Ruling). Government is hereby requested to clarify this very important issue. Also, when will the Attorney-General’s department file the recovery processes? The Media Research Unit of the Centre For National Affairs (CNA) has so far read one news item on myjoyonline which supposedly learnt from its sources within the A-Gs Department on Thursday, 11th of June, 2013 that debt recovery filing processes was to take place on Friday, 12th June, 2013. Since then, there have not been any confirmations of that by the Attorney-General’s department or any other government information sources. Again, the people have the right to be informed about the Recovery Plan and Schedule that government intends to work with. This obviously will spell out in clearer terms any default or delay payment penalties and other matters of enforcement. The centre For National Affairs (CNA) requests government responses relating to the matters above. They border largely on transparency, good governance and accountability to the public. It is government’s duty to carry the people along in such matters of high public interest every step of the way leading to the full recovery of the right amount. Signd Rocky Obeng Assistant Executive Director