Cocoa clerk remanded in custody

Twifo Praso (C/R) March 4, GNA - Joseph Nartey Ackam, a purchasing clerk of Praso OLAM Company, a private cocoa buying agency, was on Thursday remanded for misappropriating 9.56 million cedis belonging to his employers.

Ackam, who pleaded guilty to fraudulent breach of trust, pleaded with a magistrate's court at Twifo-Prasocourt to give him time to pay the amount.

Chief Inspector George Okine told the court that during last year's main cocoa season the district manger of the company, Mr Albert Abadji, gave Ackam the amount to but 16 bags of dried cocoa beans for the company.

But he failed to do so and went to hiding until January 20 when he was arrested at Twifo Ningo and handed over to the police. Chief inspector Okine said on his arrest he paid 500,000 cedis and promised to pay the balance later but failed to honour his promise.