Convener for the Coalition of Aggrieved Menzgold Customers, Fred Forson, has welcomed the move by the Attorney General, in his filing of charges against CEO of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as ‘NAM 1’, following allegations of defrauding some customers.
According to him, the charges filed against NAM 1 is a “journey to come to the finality”, in respect of the criminal aspect of the case brought against the Menzgold CEO. He revealed that even though as customers, the ultimate goal is to retrieve their monies, the move is in the right direction to getting their monies.
“Well, I think it is a piece of good news, at least customers will be relieved. We have waited for this action for the past four year, and now that the AG has come to the fore, I think it’s good. Customers will be relieved… What is happening is very bad. It looks as if NAM 1 is the owner of Ghana, to the extent that he put out information, demanding and extorting money from people. We have made several complaints, petitioned the IGP and it appears there’s no action…”
Fred Forsom
Furthermore, Mr Forson stated that based on the criminal aspect, the state also cannot exonerate itself from the matter. He explained that it has always been a “typical example that the state always reneges on its responsibility” on the issue.
“… For two weeks, we haven’t heard from SEC, we haven’t heard from Bank of Ghana and the gentleman is extorting money from the public and no statement… So, we welcome this news, and we want to see more action and we want them to fast-track it…”
Fred Forson
AG files charges Against NAM 1
Commenting on whether the move by the AG will restore faith in Menzgold customers on the ability of the state to protect members, Mr Forson indicated that for the past year, the coalition leadership has had several engagements with the Attorney General in respect of the case and also how to retrieve monies. He explained that even though the coalition is clueless about the outcome of the court proceedings scheduled for September 19, the AG’s charges is a good start, and “we are also cautious because at the end of the day, it’s our money that we also want”.
“At least, the AG has gone further to give some indications that those charges that we were talking about, now, it’s being crystallized. On the 19th of September, we shall be in court and witness how the whole thing will start. So, I think it’s a good start and we’ll want to commend the AG even though it’s late in coming… So, even as he is going about this, I would also suggest that he should also suggest, since being the legal advisor to the government, as to how customers could be settled…”
Fred Forson
Reacting to the decision by some members to pay GHC650 for verification and validation of claims before they can receive payment for their locked-up investments, Mr Forson stated that some customers are at the moment desperate to engage in whatever means to retrieve their monies.
“What I’ve come to realize is that to be vulnerable, it is not tied to your education or development, but due to the circumstances. Could you believe that there are PhD holders who have even fallen victim to the current scam – the GHC650? So, I come to the conclusion that being vulnerable, it’s not about whether you’re developed, or you have a high degree, education or you are financially sound. The affected customers of Menzgold, we have the people from the Bank of Ghana in there, at the same time they were issuing warning.”
Fred Forson
The office of the Attorney General last week came under pressure after many questioned why there has been little progress in the case against Appiah Mensah popularly known as NAM 1. This was after Appiah Mensah revealed plans to pay locked-up funds of his aggrieved customers on condition that they make a payment of about GHC650 to be verified.
NAM 1 however, later removed the financial condition for the verification following public backlash.
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