Ashanti forex bureau operators deny story

Kumasi, May 17, GNA - The Ashanti branch of the Association of Forex Bureaux has denied taking a decision to defy a Ministry of Finance directive that no single individual or company should sell more than 2,000 dollars to clients at one transaction.

This was contained in a statement issued in Kumasi on Tuesday in reaction to a lead story by the "Business and Financial Times" of May 15-21 captioned "Ashanti Forex Bureaux defy order, vows to sell over 2,000 dollars".

It described the publication as "lacking in truth and a total fabrication", saying that members of the association did not talk to any reporter of the paper. The statement said before the meeting, a tall young man introduced himself as a reporter but was told politely that he could not be allowed to sit in since "we did not want coverage".

"We are, therefore, amazed as to how the reporter could concoct such a story to set us on a collision course with the Ministry of Finance." The statement called on the public to treat the publication with contempt and assured the Ministry of Finance that the association would abide by the directive.

The association gave the paper three days to render an unqualified apology to it or face legal action. Mr Francis Dadzie, Regional Chairman, Nana Boakye Yiadom, Vice-Chairman, Mr Alfred Obeng Asante, Secretary, and Mr Isaac Boadi Asamoah, Executive Member, signed the statement.