The people of the Akwamu traditional area are experiencing their fair share of the “gargantuan crimes” being perpetrated on the people of Ghana by President Mills and his ruling National Democratic Congress after judgement debt of GH¢20 million awarded them in 2010 has been nicodemusly “chopped” by the NDC Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman.
For well over 50 years, the Chiefs and people of Akwamu had sought compensation from the State due to the construction of the Akosombo Dam, in which their lands were taken and used for this purpose.; and for close to two years they had no idea the NDC MP Asuogyaman, Rev Dr Joses Asare Akoto, in collusion with four other persons had collected and chopped the money on their behalf.
The ongoing brouhaha surrounding the GH¢92 million Woyome Scandal, however, proved to be a blessing in disguise for the people of Akwamu.
In commenting on the Woyome scandal on Joy FM, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Member of Parliament for Dormaa West and also Deputy Ranking Member of Public Accounts Committe, inadvertently disclosed to the Akwamu Traditional Council that judgement debt of GH¢20 million had been paid to them as far back as 25th February 2010 in two equal instalments of GH¢10 million.
The Auditor General’s report for the year ending 2010 submitted to Parliament confirmed Mr Agyeman Manu’s statement.
Investigations carried out by the Traditional Council to determine those who went in the name of the chiefs and people of Akwamu to collect the money revealed Rev Dr Joses Asare Akoto, NDC MP for Asuogyaman, and four other persons to be the culprits.
Intriguingly, ever since payments of the judgement debt were made in February 2010, no word was mentioned about it to any Chief who attended meetings of the Akwamu Traditional Council or given any hint.
Counsel for the Akwamu Traditional Council, Captain Effah Dartey alleged that Mr Asare Akoto, the MP, had all of a sudden acquired a fleet of trucks, among other properties, which he hired to mining companies.
As a result of this development, Nana Antwi Manu, Family Head of Yaa Ansaah Royal Family in the Eastern Region, through Captain Effah Dartey last week filed a suit at an Accra High Court to order five people including the NDC MP to render full account of GH¢20 million cedis.
The other four defendants in the suit are Nana Afrakoma II, Head of the Royal Ababia Family and Queen mother, Nana Amo Bekai, Gilbert Larbi, and Nana Asare Antwi.
The application also sought an order from the court to compel the defendants to hand over all, if any, outstanding balances to the Akwamu Traditional Council and pending full disclosure the personal accounts of the defendants should be frozen.
This GH¢20 million compensation was meant for the Ahamand Area which has the following settlements Nyameben, Mpakadan, Dasaase, Old Anyinase, Kyease, Awura High among the few. Also the compensation claims for Apaaso area of the Eastern Regions which also fall in the Akwamu Traditional Area is said to have been paid.
The New Statesman is undertaking investigations into the GH¢642 million judgement debts paid under the tenure of President John Evans Atta-Mills and our preliminary findings are mind-boggling.
What comes out is a seeming mega-scheme to use judgement debts and the courts to steal state resources.
Some beneficiaries admit to actually receiving less than 20% of the full payment, with the rest of the money allegedly going to the NDC party, Castle and other officials at the relevant ministries who facilitated the process.
