The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo, has chastised the Mills-led administration for doling out a whopping 42million cedis to NDC stalwart Alfred Woyome as judgment debt at the expense of the numerous needs of ordinary Ghanaians. He is also surprised at the Attorney General (AG) for ignoring a court directive to pay only 17 million cedis pending final determination of a suit against Woyome’s claim. The AG is now seeking to set aside the terms of settlement it had earlier signed, saying it made a mistake in calculating the quantum. The money was in respect of claims that the erstwhile Kufuor government abrogated a contract to refurbish three stadia for the CAN 2008 football tournament. President Mills has asked the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), to investigate the circumstances that led to the payment of the moneys to Alfred Woyome. The NPP minority in parliament on Tuesday called on government to institute an inquiry into the matter as soon as possible to ensure that nobody shortchanges the country. Criminologist Prof. Ken Attafuah also believes an independent investigation into the matter can only be done if the constitutionally mandated body, parliament, carries out the investigation. Nana Akufo Addo who was addressing a press soiree at his Nima residence on Thursday night said there must be a public inquiry into the matter. The NPP flagbearer said, “I think we can see that these are not normal times and in order to settle the public way and let people have a clear understanding that those who have been put in authority to look after the moneys of our country are doing so in a responsible and accountable manner, I support the call of the minority of an independent committee of inquiry… in order to go into the matter.” He said it should be possible for those put at the helm of affairs to defend the interest of the country when they are needed most.