Mediawatch: $500,000 diverted by Free Zones CEO?

Mediawatch Research Associates, an organization dedicated to addressing corruption in Ghana and Africa is calling on the Ghanaian Government, the Attorney General, and the Criminal Investigations Department to investigate the alleged disappearance of 500,000 Dollars from the Ghana Free Zones Account between May 2009 and November 2010.

The Group also wants the above institutions to investigate a deposit account at the Standard Bank in South Africa registered in the names of Mr. Kwadwo Twum Boafo, the current CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Board and Pieter Van Huggestien, a South African Businessman currently wanted for corporate fraud and false accounting in South Africa and believed to be hiding in Djakarta, Indonesia, of which 500,000 Dollars which is part of the free zones budget allocation was deposited in three batches between June and September 2010.

The group wants Mr. Kojo Twum Boafo to step aside due to the serious nature of these acts of corruption.

The following is the Group’s full statement:

INVESTIGATE CORRUPTION AND STEALING AT THE GHANA FREE ZONES BOARD

Mediawatch Research Associates is calling on the Ghanaian Government, the Attornery General, Ghana and the Criminal Investigations Office of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the alleged disappearance of 500,000 Dollars from the Ghana Free Zones Account for the year MAY 2009 to NOV 2010. We also call on the above organizations to

A. investigate a deposit account at the Standard Bank in South Africa registered in the Names of Mr. Kwadwo Twum Boafo, the current Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Board and Pieter Van Huggestien, a South African Businessman currently wanted for corporate fraud and false accounting in South Africa and believed to be hiding in Djarkata, Indonesia, of which 500,000 Dollars which is part of the free zones budget allocation was deposited in three batches on the following dates

11th June, 2010- 300,000 Dollars

1st of July, 2010- 100,000 Dollars

15th of September, 2010- 100,000 Dollars

B. Investigate allegations that the Ghana FreeZones Board is being used for money laundering for some South African Nationals who have registered companies in Ghana to evade customs duties for a fee with the monies diverted into the accounts in South Africa.

C. Why Mr. Twum Boafo has opened a Special Deposit Account(SDA) under a Ghana Free Zones Board Investment initiative in Namibia and Angola for 2 other individuals one in the name of Pieter van Huggestien of which regular deposits are to be made starting October 2010. The authorities would need to find out who the other person is

D. Why Kojo Twum Boafo has diverted resources and logistics from the Ghana Free Zones to a company he owns with Mr. Ato Ahwoi at Labone estates

MEDIAWATCH is calling for

1. Kojo Twum Boafo to stand down from his position due to the serious nature of these acts of corruption

2. The Attorney General and EOCO carry out a forensic examination of all electronic mail and financial transactions of Mr. Twum Boafo and other staff since May 2009.

3. The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police service investigates financial crime and theft of public funds.

We wait for action from President Mills and his government on this breach of public trust.

Mrs. Haleema Asana Kabore

Mediawatch Research Associates

Source: CITIFM