Storekeeper charged with stealing 27.8 million cedis

Accra, May 3, GNA - Johnson Kwesi Aidoo alias Amoako, a storekeeper of the Kade Society of Cocoa Inputs Company Limited, who allegedly sold merchandise valued at 27.8 million cedis and pocketed the money, on Wednesday appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra.

Aidoo, 49, pleaded not guilty to stealing and he was granted 30 million cedis bail with one surety to be justified, and would reappear on May 25. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Edward Antwi told the tribunal chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Anderson Yebuah that on December 21, last year, the management of the company ordered that stock should be taken at the Kade District store of the company, which Aidoo was keeping.

He said the audit report revealed a shortage of 25.5 million cedis, arising out of inputs supplied to the storekeeper for sale to cocoa farmers in the area. Chief Inspector Antwi said the management was not satisfied with the report and, therefore, ordered that the company's internal auditors should do a second stocktaking.

This was done in the presence of the Kwaebibirem District Chief Farmer, Nana Kwame Boamah and the Police. According to the Prosecutor, a further shortage of 2.3 million cedis was detected brining the total to 27.8 million cedis, which Aidoo admitted he had made use of.

He said Aidoo pleaded with the company to give him two months to enable him to refund the money, but he failed to do so.