A staff of Animens Hotel in Takoradi where Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, former First Lady was said to have lodged early this month, has told DAILY GUIDE that indeed the woman reported of her missing money.
William Akorfa Howard, who is on a police enquiry bail, told DAILY GUIDE that a staff of the hotel informed him that Nana Konadu left the hotel because her GH¢1,800 (¢18million) was stolen from her suite.
But speaking in an interview on Peace FM, Kofi Adams, spokesperson of the former first couple, said he could not confirm or deny the said theft case.
Although the Takoradi Police Commander, Dela Dzansi, has stated categorically that Nana Konadu never reported any theft to his command, William was picked up three days after the incident.
DSP Dela told DAILY GUIDE that the police in Takoradi and other stations in the region had not confirmed any such story to any media house, slamming earlier reports about the theft.
He said the police arrested William Akorfa on a series of theft cases, adding, “If indeed any high-profile personality like Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings had reported of robbery case in Takoradi, I would have immediately informed the Regional Police Commander, because we have a chain of command.”
When contacted, Seth Awuku, a legal practitioner and son of the proprietress of the hotel, said Mrs. Rawlings had not officially reported any official case of theft to management.
He said the security network at the hotel was among the best and had over the years been serving high-ranking diplomas, presidents and other personalities.
Mr. Awuku said William used to work at the hotel, but had been fired following his suspicious character. He said since the case had been reported to the police for investigation, so it should not be politicized.
But speaking in an interview with DAILY GUIDE yesterday, William said, “I don’t know anything about the alleged theft, they know themselves, for I am a self-made man who worked in France for 18 years as a cleaner and hairdresser. I am innocent, they just framed me up, but God will let the truth come out.”
He told DAILY GUIDE that it was a hotel staff,(named withheld) who first told him that two housekeepers had said that Nana Konadu did not sleep at the hotel on the night of 8th September 2010 because she was robbed of GH¢1,800 when they (workers) came to work in the morning of 9th September.
William said when the hotel proprietress and the storekeeper met with him, the storekeeper also said the former First lady had complained of being robbed of some money. This, he said, was confirmed by a staff that Mrs. Rawlings said the amount was GH¢1,800.
The proprietress then met with all the workers and gave them three days to bring the missing money to her so that she could give it back to Mrs. Rawlings.
William said he was extremely surprised that on Saturday, 11th September 2010, at about 4 am, he heard a knock on his door at Adekope, a village near Takoradi, only to see Mr. Awuku, Emmanuel Kalebonson, the hotel storekeeper and two policemen.
He told DAILY GUIDE that the police searched his room and found GH¢350 and went to search inside his private car but did not see anything, adding that they took him to Takoradi Central Police station to write his statement, after which he was put in cells and later bailed.
His car, some receipts and other documents are with the police and he reports to the police station periodically as investigations continue.
