Former Presidential Candidate remanded for fraud

Prophet Daniel Yaw Nkansah, Leader of New Vision Pentecostal Church, who was found hidden in the ceiling of his bedroom to escape arrest on Wednesday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Prophet Nkansah together with one Haruna Natogma, unemployed appeared before the court for allegedly defrauding four farmers from Karaga District in the sum of GH?69,000 under the pretext that they would assist them to purchase tractors on hire purchase from John Deere Company Limited at Dobro, near Nsawam.

They pleaded not guilty to six counts of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences.

However, Prophet Nkansah was remanded into Police custody while Natogman was granted GH?10,000 bail with two sureties.

They would re-appear on Wednesday, March 21.

Mrs Ivy Heward- Mills, the trial judge who did not take kindly to some of the alleged fraudulent activities of Prophet Nkansah said he should be remanded into custody to serve as a deterrent for others.

Prophet Nkansah who was also the 2008 Presidential Candidate for New Vision Party is being tried for similar offences in other courts.

Police Chief Inspector Peter Nsoh, prosecuting said the complainants Mohammed Fuseini, Alhaji Yakbu Fuseini, Fuseini Ziblim Alhassan Wumbe and Kassim Alhassan were farmers from Karaga District in the Northern Region.

He said sometime in March 2011, Natogman approached the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Karaga District that he could assist the farmers within the area to buy tractors on hire purchase from John Deere Company Limited at Dobro, near Nsawam at a cost of GH?24,000 each.

Chief Inspector Nsoh said the District Chief Executive informed the complainants who expressed interest and made part payment, totaling GH?69,000 to the DCE which was paid into Natogman’s bank account at Fidelity bank in Accra who later handed over the money to Prophet Nkansah.

He said Prophet Nkansah then gave Natogman a commission of GH?13,000 and invited the complainants to Accra and took them to John Deere Company Limited and showed them some tractors.

Chief Inspector Nsoh said the complainants were asked to take photographs with the tractors and promised that they would be delivered to them within two weeks.

He said the accused persons could not honour their promises and went into hiding.

Chief Inspector Nsoh said on October 5, 2011, a report was made to the Police by the complainants and Natogman was arrested and during investigation admitted collecting GH?69, 000 from the complainants and handed over the money to Prophet Nkansah and was given GH?10,000 for his personal use.

He said Natogman then refunded GH?7,000 out of the money to the Police.

The prosecutor said on March 6, 2012, Prophet Nkansah was arrested in his hide-out and in his cautioned statement admitted receiving the money from Natogman.