NPP youth leader on fraud charge

Cape Coast -- MR. ANTHONY Amoakwah, New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth organiser for the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa constituency in the Central region is being stared in the face with a prosecution of fraud for collecting his salaries from August to September last year from NADMO and GES respectively.

An NGO, African Human Rights Heritage (AHRH), operating at Breman-Asikuma, first publicly raised the issue of fraud against Anthony Amoakwah in a petition copied to the Central regional minister, regional crime officer (police), district co-ordinator for NADMO, district police commander and the district co-ordinating director for verification or investigation.

According to a police report signed by ASP Fuseini Mahama of Breman Asikuma and dated March 27, this year, Mr. Anthony Amoakwah, a pupil teacher for 17 years at Abuakwa Roman Catholic Kindergarten, had employment with NADMO last year without resigning from the GES.

In spite of his absence from school, his salary kept appearing in his account at the Breman Asikuma Ghana Commercial Bank and he took advantage to withdraw salaries covering August to October, 2002.

In his explanation to the police, Mr. Amoakwah stated that he knew he was entitled to the August and September salaries and accepted his error in collecting the October salary of ?343,000.

According to the police, Mr. Amoakwah has refunded the October salary which the police has retained as an exhibit with the docket referred to the state attorney for advice.

At the time of filing this report, the regional director of NADMO is said to have suspended the salary of Mr. Amoakwah but he is still at post, under probation, pending the outcome of police investigation.