Premix secretary allegedly embezzles fuel money

The Secretary of the Ankwanda Land Beach Premix Committee in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality was on Tuesday arraigned before a Cape Coast Circuit Court for allegedly embezzling Ghc40,000 being the value of premix oil sold under his watch.

Philip Mensah, 31, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of Ghc60,000 with two sureties, one to be justified and the other, a government employee who earns a monthly salary of not less than Ghc500.00.

He will reappear on July 2.

Police Chief Inspector Charles Yao Anku told the Court presided over by Mr. Kofi Seshie Ametewee that, the complainant is the Ankwanda Chief Fisherman, as well as the Chairman of the Ankwanda Land Beach Premix Committee while the accused is his secretary who controls the sale of the fuel.

He said in March, Champion Oil Company in Accra supplied the Ankwanda Land Beach with premix oil valued at Ghc40,000 and that after the accused had finished selling it, he failed to pay the money to the suppliers through the committee’s account at the Ghana Commercial Bank.

He said in April, an official from the Champion Oil company informed the complainant of non-payment of the oil supplied.

Police Chief Inspector Anku said the complainant confronted Mensah who admitted the offence and promised to refund it but his failure to honour his promise made the complainant report the issue to the police leading to Mensah’s arrest.