Fake Currency Trafficking On The Rise In Techiman

Accra - The mere mention of B/A in any part of the country is responded with Bayere Akesee. Bankye Akese or Bodee Akesee. This is because the Region is traditionally known as the nation's food or bread basket.

Therefore the Region's contribution to Ghana's socio-economic development since time immemorial has not been in doubt.

Although currency-trafficking and counterfeiting is not a new phenomenon in the country, our tabloids and broad sheets have continued to give prominent coverage to such issue.

Headlines such as "Fake currency gang busted", "Police arrest currency traffickers", Security Forces quiz four over fake currency", have become a permanent feature of our newspapers, be it daily bi- weekly or weekly.

However, one area that has come under the siege of fake currency traffickers has been Techiman, regarded as the economic capital of Brong-Ahafo.

Today, the town which is gradually being citified is fast establishing itself as a popular destination for currency trafficking.

The town, known as one of the biggest agricultural markets in the country, attracts people from within and beyond the country. This has, therefore, become a booming market for the traffickers.

Chronicle gathered in the town that the list of those who have fallen victim seems endless. Hawkers, supermarket operators, communication centre operators, restaurant,s wayside food sellers, market women, farmers, merchants etc.

Investigations further revealed that there is a gang operating from Dwomo, a suburb of Techiman, led by two guys called Allo Macho and Kwaku Agyei, alias Cocaine.

These gangsters have several fake currency cases pending against them at Techiman, Nkoranza, Atebubu, and Sunyani, in the Brong-Ahafo region and Sefwi Wiaso Police in the Western region respectively.

Notwithstanding this, the gangsters are freely going round town without any hope in the horizon that they would soon face the full rigours of the law.

However, the irony of the fact is that the police in town have continuously granted bail to the gangsters, crime after crime.

This has led to a situation where natives of Techiman are said to be losing confidence in the Techiman Police, as far as fake currency is concerned, for their inability to deal with the criminals.

What has even exacerbated the people's speculation is the recent implication of the Techiman Police of fake currency complicity deals by Allo Macho, one of the group believed to be an accomplished fake currency dealer.

He was reported to have implicated the Techiman Police early this year by the Ghanaian Times.

However, the Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of Techiman Police, Emmanuel A. Yendau, in an interview dismissed the recent implication of the Techiman Police in fake currency deals as untrue, a hoax without a single shred of truth, totally fabricated by a criminal to throw dust into public eyes in order to cover his misdeeds.

Although ASP Yendau acknowledged the prevalence of fake currency in Techiman, he categorically denied the involvement of Techiman Police and described the allegation as vague without any basis, saying, "why can't Allo Macho mention even the name of one policeman."

Yendau disclosed that on January 6, last year, Allo Macho in the presence of the Brong Ahafo Regional police commander and two other police officers denied the involvement of Techiman police in counterfeiting deals and that the recent incrimination is a matter of double standard by Allo Macho.

The district police boss told Chronicle, "Allo Macho and his gang have several fake currency cases pending against them at the Atebubu, Sunyani, Nkoranza and Sefwi Wiaso police stations. Does it mean that in all these places he was aided and abetted by the Techiman Police?"

Asked why the Police have failed to prosecute the criminal, Yendau blamed Bank of Ghana (BOG) for its inability to do so. "Last year alone, we submitted five causes to the BOG to ascertain the genuiness or otherwise of such currencies, but up till now, the BOG has not even submitted one result to be used as an exhibit in court, and mind you, we can't keep the suspects in cells beyond the stipulated hours," he said.

ASP Yendau, however, appealed to the Central Bank to co-operate with the police to enable them deal with such economic saboteurs.

This brings into sharp focus the role of the Bank of Ghana in sheperding the nation's monetary policies. One needs not to be a professor of economics or finance to pinpoint the negative effects of such activities.

In short, the injection of counterfeits into the system affects supply of money which invariably affects the economy, one way or the other.

It is hoped that the Bank of Ghana would act swiftly to enable the Techiman Police prosecute currency traffickers to enable the people restore their confidence in them. The ball is in your courts now, BOG.