Former NCA Board Member Denies Minister's Corruption Allegation

A former member of the board of the National Communications Authority, Dr. Nana Owusu-Ensaw who was cited in an ongoing “fraudulent” scandal at the telecoms regulator, has come out to deny vehemently ever taking part in any looting of funds.

According to Dr. Owusu-Esaw he has no knowledge of the supposed fraudulent $6 million contract signed between the NCA and Infraloks Development Limited in relation to the purchase of a listening device.

The Board Chairman of NCA Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, including the Chief Executive Officer, William Tevie; a former Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Osman, as well as a private businessman, George Oppong of Infraloks Development Limited, are currently under investigation by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) over some US$4 Million withdrawn from the NCA’s account purportedly for the purchase of the listening device.

But Dr. Owusu-Ensaw, in a statement released through a communication outfit Kumunication HQ, and copied to thebftonline.com , denied any involvement in the deal, in which he is alleged to have received some $500,000 dollars which he was expected to have shared with some colleagues of his.

The statement which came after his encounter with the BNI, indicated that he categorically told them that he never received any money in relation to the matter being investigated and was willing to cooperate with the authorities to unravel the truth surrounding the alleged deal.

“In addition to the foregoing, Dr. Owusu-Ensaw is further prepared to cooperate with the authorities to get the bottom of the allegations” the statement added.

Background
The news about how former NCA officials allegedly withdrew $4 million from the accounts of the NCA and failed to account for it broke last week.

According to media reports, officials had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at the cost of $6 million, to enable National Security monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.

A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, was also charging $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.

But only $1 million was paid into the accounts of the Israeli company while the remaining $3 million was lodged into the accounts of one George Oppong, representing the local agents, Infraloks Development Limited.

According to media reports, all persons involved except Alhaji Osman [whose whereabouts are unknown] and Mr. Tevie, have admitted to taking the money and have been granted bail after the BNI took their statements. Some of them have started refunding the money to the state.

Gov’t committed to retrieve the money - Mustapha Hamid

Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, told Joy FM government is determined to retrieve “every pesewa” wrongfully taken from the accounts of the National Communications Authority (NCA) by former Board members.

“Their goal is to retrieve as much of whatever was looted from the state as possible.”

Mustapha Hamid explained that there is always the difficulty in getting the monies paid back into the state coffers when the culprits are prosecuted or even incarcerated.