…Accused of Defrauding Constituents Of Over 1 billion Cedis
Some residents of Asunafo North district of the Brong Ahafo region are accusing Robert Sarfo Mensah, a Member of Parliament for the area, of defrauding them of over one billion cedis under the pretext of acquiring visas to enable them travel abroad. Reports gathered by the Lens, disclose that during the 2004 general elections, Robert Sarfo Mensah allegedly promised to use his position to assist his constituents to secure lucrative jobs abroad, specifically in Belgium through the Ghana–Belgium Chamber of Commerce, if elected as the Member of Parliament for the area. This, according to his constituents, was a part of his campaign promises to the electorate.
Info available to The Lens indicates that the residents in their desire to seek greener pastures abroad, voted massively for him. Soon afterwards, the MP decided to reciprocate the kind gesture. Under intense pressure from his people especially his party members, he felt obligated to fulfill his promises. His constituents allege that the MP demanded from the people some amount of money to process their visas.
However, to date, Hon. Sarfo Mensah has still not been able to fulfill his promise and has resorted to blaming the Ghana-Belgium Chamber of Commerce for the failure.
Investigation by the Lens indicates that he has allegedly collected an amount of over 1 billion cedis- the monies were allegedly collected from about one hundred people in and outside of his constituency. Amounts collected ranged between 16 million cedis from individuals to over 70 million cedis from groups.
The Lens can confirm that the majority of the victims, who are die-hard NPP supporters, reside in the MP’s constituency whilst the rest live in Asunafo South and Asutifi North constituencies.
Visit by The Lens to the constituencies, uncovered that most of the victims are small-scale subsistence farmers, petty traders, young markets women, and car tyre repairers. Others were journalists from Nananum fm and Success fm in Goaso, the district capital of Asunafo North, a police officer of Asunafo North district, young business people and some chiefs in and outside the district.
These victims, according to the Lens investigation, have sold their properties, such as lands, buildings, crop farms, poultry farms and livestock farms in order to secure the visa to the “Promised Land”. Others auctioned their taxi cabs, tractors, and old caterpillars. This, they did soon after the MP had introduced to them to a white lady who was supposedly a representative from Belgium .
The victims who are bitterly disappointed and confused are still being restrained from disclosing their identity at this time. According to them, the NPP gurus are talking to them through the chiefs to exercise patience.
Every effort by The Lens to get the MP to respond to the allegations has proved futile. He would not speak to the issue. All attempts to reach Mr. Yeboah, the Director of the Ghana–Belgium Chamber of Commerce have also not been successful.
