The president of All Nigerian Community, (ANC) Ghana Moses Owharo has been suspended as a result of an accusation leveled against him of illegally depleting the bank account of the Association through fraudulent means.

The statement issued on the ANC Association Facebook page indicated that the fraud was perpetrated through altering the signatories to the account of the Association, backed by ingenuine resolution purported to have come from the Executive Council of the Association which allowed two culprits: one Daniel Obiora and Godwin Onowu believed to be cronies of Mr. Owharo to withdraw thousands of Ghana Cedis from the account.

The Facebook post reads: “Over the past few days, several issues within the Nigerian Community have brought so much argument and discussion concerning the veracity of a report against the President of All Nigerian Community, Ghana, Mr. Moses Oghenekaro Timothy Owharo on financial misappropriation as regards the illegal addition of signatories to an official ANC Ghana account in United Bank of Africa (UBA) and subsequent withdrawal without the approval of fellow Executives.

These acts can only be defined as gross misconduct and an abuse and rape of constitutional provisions and the laws that bind our beloved community.

For the sake of transparency, due process and a fair hearing, the executives have decided to take the following actions:

1) The immediate suspension of Mr. Moses Owharo as the President of the All Nigerian community pending investigations.

2) A summons of Mr. Owharo to explain his role in the change of signatories and withdrawals made from the All Nigerian Community, Ghana UBA Account

3) An emergency congress to submit findings and initiate due processes that are peculiar to the matters at hand. This would hold on 28th September, 2016. The Regional Heads would be duly communicated.

Justifying its decision to suspend Mr. Owharo, the Association said “We as Executive body do realise that every individual remains innocent until proven guilty and at the same time we know that no man can be the judge of his own case. On this note, the 1st vice President shall immediately assume control of all presidential responsibilities whilst we get to the bottom of this matter.”

The Executives however urge all Nigerians in Ghana to remain calm and supportive as it ensures that the long arm of the law spares no perpetrators”

GhanaWeb.com, in a telephone conversation with the Public Relation Officer of the Association - Barry Ndu - confirmed the post on ANC Facebook account is “true”.

In a similar interview format, Mr. Owharo denied been suspended; he as well denied any wrongdoing: “Whatever action I was reported to have taken was done according to the constitution of the Association, he said”. He however declined commenting further- whether money was unlawfully withdrawn from the account, but was quick to add, before he abruptly end the call that the Board of Trustee is looking into the issue and “very soon, I will issue a statement on the true state of the issue”.

Brief on All Nigerian Community, Ghana

All Nigerian Community, Ghana is the umbrella body of all Nigerians in Ghana, recognized by the Nigeria High Commission to see to the welfare of Nigerians in Ghana, among other responsibilities.

The leadership of the association was restructured in 2013 by the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan, which saw to the emergence of Mr. Moses Owharo as the president of the Association, with a maximum term of 2 years.