Obuasi District Labour officer runs away with C140 million.

Obuasi, July 30, GNA - The Obuasi District Labour Officer, Mr. J. Amponsah-Ababio is alleged to have absconded with more than 140 million cedis being compensation due to the families of two deceased employees of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC), Obuasi.

He has therefore, unceremoniously vacated his post since February 3 this year and his where about is still being sought for by the two affected families.

A GNA investigation revealed that Mr Amponsah-Ababio took advantage of the Labour Law concerning the payment of workman's compensation in the event of injury or death to dupe the families of the late James Okyere and James Boakye to a total amount of 140,918,396.60, which AGC paid into the District Labour Department's imprest account.

Following the dilly-dallying in the payment of the compensation to the families by the District Labour officer, Messrs Kwame Nyamekye and Kwaku Donkor, being the heads of family of the two ex-employee reported the conduct of the Labour Officer to the management of AGC.

In a letter from AGC dated January 15, 2003 and signed by Mrs Elaine Kwami, the General Manager, Human Resources and which was addressed to the District Labour Officer and copied to the Chief Labour Officer in Accra confirmed such payment to the District Labour Department .

"Our records indicate that by our letters dated 27th July, 2002 and 27th November, 2002, we have forwarded Cheque Nos. 018323 and 018461 for 63,561,146.60 cedis and 73,357,250.00 cedis respectively for payment of compensation to the respective survivors", it said. The letter continued, "it is gathered that in spite of repeated demands by the petitioners and prompting from our Industrial Relations Manager, you have failed to pay to the heads of families the said amount".

AGC requested him to pay the amounts to the two families and furnish them with documentary proof of payment of the compensation within fortnight but the District Labour Officer failed.

Opanin Kwame Nyamekye told the GNA that the matter was reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Tutuke Divisional Police but nothing came out of it despite the fact the Labour officer was invited to the Police Station several times.

According to Opanin Nyamekye, reports reaching him indicate that Mr Amponsah-Ababio had managed to travel abroad and he is in New York and he is therefore, soliciting the support of INTERPOL for his arrest.