Asuogyaman MP and four others before court over compensation

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA – Nana Antwi Manu, Family Head of Yaa Ansaah Royal Family in the Eastern Region, has filed a suit at an Accra High Court to order five people including Mr Josiah Asare Akoto, Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman to render full account of GHc20 million cedis paid as compensation for the people of Akwamu as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Dam.

The application also sought an order from the court to compel the defendants to handover all outstanding balances to the Akwamu Traditional Council and pending full disclosure the personal accounts of the defendants should be frozen.

The other 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 case has been adjourned to January 30th.
In an affidavit in support of the motion, Captain Nkrabeah Effah Darteh (Retired), Counsel for the Plaintiff, said following the alleged scandal of huge judgement debt paid to Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the Deputy Ranking Member of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Member of Parliament for Dormaa West announced in the media that in 2010 government paid GHc20 million cedis to the people of Akwamu as compensation for the Akosombo Dam.

He said since the 1960's the chiefs and people of Akwamu had been following this compensation claim without success so the disclosure by the Member of Parliament shocked the people of Akwamu.

Counsel said series of investigations begun to determine those who went in the name of the chiefs and people of Akwamu to collect the money.

Captain Effah Dartey said even though Nana Afrakoma, Nana Amo Bekai, Gilbert Larbi and Nana Asare Antwi denied knowledge of any payment, however, Mr Josiah Asare Akoto, Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman confessed leading the four people to collect the money.

The writ according to Mr Agyeman Manu said documents from the Auditor General's Department indicated that the money was paid in two tranches of GHc10 million cedis each, on the same day, February 25, 2010.

He said ever since that money was paid no word had been mentioned about it to any chief who attended meetings of the Akwamu Traditional Council or given any hint.

Captain Effah Dartey alleged that Nana Afrakoma had purchased an executive luxury house at Tesano while Mr Asare Akoto, the MP had acquired a fleet of trucks which he hired to mining companies.

He said what was more disturbing was that as at February 25, 2010 Nana Kyeremanteng, who Nana Afrakoma refused to recognise as Omanhene, was still alive and performing the functions of President of Akwamu Traditional Council.

GNA