Prampram Chief asked to account for 160.4 million cedis

Tema (Greater Accra) 1st June ?99

The Prampram Traditional Council has filed a writ at a Tema high court seeking the court's order to compel Nene Tetteh Djan III, Paramount Chief of the Traditional area to release the council's accounting books in his possession for auditing.

According to the writ, an initial auditing carried out by Albert Ocansey and Company Limited, revealed that 160.4 million cedis, from the Council's treasury, cannot be accounted for.

This could run into about 300 million cedis if full auditing is carried out.

The writ, which was filed on behalf of the Council by Mr Rex Lamptey, a Tema lawyer, said Nene Djan, by his position as a signatory to the account and privilege to view the pay vouchers and books took possession of the accounting books and has refused to return them.

The auditors in their report said they did not get co-operation from Nene Djan, neither did they get access to books and records maintained by him.

The auditors, therefore, focused their attention on the Council's bank operations.

Records in possession of Nene Djan include pay vouchers, receipt books, ledger, waybills and purchase and sales books.

According to the auditors, the monies unaccounted for include 85 million cedis being part payment for a piece of land sold to M and S Development Company for 100 million cedis and an amount of five million cedis, which the company paid towards gravel rights.

The Council is, therefore, seeking the court's order directing the Tema Regional Crime Officer and the registrar of the high court to take immediate possession of the books to forestall any attempt by the defendant to destroy or tamper with them.

Nene Djan, who is represented by Mr A. K. Bannerman-Williams did not file a defence but rather a motion describing the application as devoid of merit.

The motion said the documents being requested by the plaintiffs, form the basis of a criminal case pending before a Tema community tribunal in the case of the Republic versus Annan Tetteh, a former Registrar of the Prampram Traditional Council.

Counsel for the defendants also opposed the application saying the case against Nene Djan is a chieftaincy matter and the high court is not the proper forum for dealing with it.

The court presided over by Mrs. Felicity Amoah adjourned to Thursday June 17, for continuation.