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NPP's Ecobank 'secret' account under investigations

Mr Freddie Blay and Kwabena Abankwa are under investigations for operating a secret account at Ecobank

 

The ongoing feud among the top hierarchy of the opposition New Patriotic Party over the operation of an alleged secret account at Ecobank has taken an interesting twist, as report indicates that the Criminal Investigations Department has invited the leadership of the party for questioning.

An Ecobank ‘secret’ account was purported to be operated by the First National Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay and Treasurer, Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah.

The move follows a complaint lodged at the national headquarters of the Ghana Police Service by a member of the elephant family.

The shocking revelation of the existent of the account, which was previously unknown to some of the national executives of the party including the National Chairman and General Secretary came to light when kingpins of the party questioned the veracity of the allegation of a secret account at ECOBANK at the Trust Towers, and which was alleged to be holding about GH¢6.2million, but, that had since shrunk to GHؔ¢5.1 million.

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According to reports, two senior members of the party, who are alleged to be signatories of the said account and which is without the knowledge and consent of the National Chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and the party’s finance committee, were extensively questioned by members.

Report also indicates that when it was finally revealed that the account, which was kept away from the National Chairman and General Secretary and which had over GH¢6.2 million previously had shrunk to GH¢5.1 million, members became agitated, with one senior member of the party immediately calling for further probe and possible sanctions.

In a letter signed by Mr Paul Afoko to the National Treasurer of the party, he said he doesn't know any Ecobank account, however, the said account was under investigations and until the issues are settled, he is unable to accede to request from the party.

But the National Treasurer in response wrote to Mr Ohene Ntow who serves as the Chairman of the Special Committee to intervene.

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Read below his statement to the police:REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONI write to bring to your urgent attention some strange transactions with regards to the operation of the New Patriotic Party’s account with Ecobank Gh Limited, Trust Towers Branch, Accra by some National Executives of my party namely, Mr. Abankwa Yeboah, Treasurer, and Mr. Freddy Blay, 1st Vice Chairman.My suspicion of Fraud by these two persons and other accomplice(s) have been occasioned by the illegal activating and suspected connivance with Ecobank to operate the said account without the attention of the constitutionally mandated procedures and signatories of the party’s account.My preliminary investigations have revealed the following:1. Bankers Draft in the name of the NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY totaling Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS5,200.000.00) out of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX paid by Parliamentary Aspirants and received by the party in respect of Parliamentary election expected to have been paid into the party’s Operational Account (Official) with Ghana Commercial Bank Limited of which the party’s mandatory signatories i.e. National Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer are signatories to the account, were diverted into a different account without the attention of the party leadership and or party structures. The account which has been a dormant account with the name; NPP 2010 Election Account at Ecobank, Trust Towers Branch. The account which is NOT the official operational account has since been inactive following the 2012 elections as the name of the account suggests.2. Contrary to laid down party procedure, Mr. Abankwa singly wrote to the Manager of Ecobank Gh. Ltd, Trust Towers Branch and insisted for the mandate to be changed to himself, Mr. Abankwah Yeboah and Mr. Freddy Blay. Mr Abankwah falsely represented to the bank that the said letter was copied to the National Chairman and General Secretary; and caused the bank to change the signatories to himself and Mr. Blay.3. Out of the monies received, XXXXXXXXXXXXX was deposited into the party’s official Operational Account with Ghana Commercial Bank. The remaining amount of Five Million, Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS5,200.000.00) were surprisingly deposited into the NPP 2010 Election Account instead of the official party's account with Ghana Commercial Bank. 4. Contrary to the party’s policy and without the authorisation of the mandated officials of our party, the Treasurer, Mr. Abankwah Yeboah, and the 1st Vice Chairman, Mr. Freddie Blay managed to make initial withdrawals summing to One Million, One Hundred and Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS1,103,000.00)5. Additionally, Mr. Abankwah Yeboah and Mr. Freddie Blay managed to redirect Three Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS3,999,000.00) into Treasury Bill investment which was made in an unknown name.I find this deliberate deception by Mr. Abankwah Yeboah and Mr. Freddie Blay to secure unfair and/or unlawful gain by misrepresenting to the bank, diverting public funds and enjoying the interest thereon to constitute Crime.Further, I suspect conspiracy by bank officials of Ecobank in abetting with Mr. Abankwah Yeboah and Mr. Freddie Blay to defraud the party. I hope that this lead would help your good office to immediately cause a thorough investigation and apprehend any person(s) who may have contributed to this unfortunate situation and made to face the full recourse of the law.I pray your urgent attention. Thank you.Yours Sincerely,....... Signed....... Baah Acheamfour(N.P.P. Member)

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