Insurance Commissioner Received $96,500 Kick Back

Ghana's Insurance Commissioner, Mr S. Appiah-Ampofo, is alleged to have succeeded in replacing the former insurance brokers of Ghana Airways, Bowring (now Marsh Limited) with another insurance company known as Aon.

According to information reaching the newsroom of, The Crusading GUIDE, the Commissioner recommended the new company in 1995, with the assurance that he was going to be given some commission for helping it (Aon) to secure the contract.

It added that between 1995 and 1998, payments of commissions totalling $96,500 were made to the Commissioner.

A document attached to a letter written to the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Airways, Mr E.L. Quartey Jnr. Dated January 4, 2001 and signed by Mr Garrick R. Hitchen on behalf of Marsh, had indicated that Mr Edward Grant Whytock, a broker working as a consultant to the aviation division of Nicholson Leslie Ltd.-met the insurance Commissioner in London in 1985.

It alleged that "further to discussions, it was agreed that in the event that the event that the Commissioner was able to assist in the introduction of new business to Nicholson Leslie, he would be remunerated by the company with a share of the resulting commission".

The document maintained that when the Commissioner returned to the country in 1992 to take up the appointment, Whytock was not aware of his (Commissioner's) appointment.

"On 30th September, 1994, Mr Appiah-Ampofo, in his role as Insurance Commissioner, wrote to the Insurance Company (Bowring) detailing complaints by the Airline Company (Ghanair) in handling of its insurance requirements. "Subsequently, the Airline Company asked Mr Whytock to provide a report detailing how improvements may be made to the existing re-insurance arrangements.

This was provided in early 1995", the document intimated.

It continued that on 27th February 1995, the Commissioner held a meeting with Ghanair, the Insurance Company and Re-insurance Company to discuss the future placement of the insurance and re-insurance of Ghana Airways and the report was prepared by Nicholson Leslie.

In a letter dated March 1, 1995, Ghanair was said to have informed Nicholson that following the meeting, it would likely nominate a broker of its choice.

Following Mr Whytock's role in replacing Ghanair's former insurance brokers, a Disciplinary Board brought him (Whytock) before it and he was found to have violated the insurance law.

Consequently, a fine of ?5,000 was imposed on him. In addition, Mr Edward Grant Whytock was said to have agreed to pay the costs of Lloyds in the sum of ?2,500.