Government is 'fooling' us with 'lies' - DKM victims

Members of group calling itself Concerned Customers and Sympathisers of DKM Diamond Microfinance Ltd., God is Love Fun Club, and Other Microfinance Companies in the Brong Ahafo Region, whose accounts were blocked by the Bank of Ghana, have threatened a nationwide demonstration to express their frustration with the government for withholding monies belonging to them.

DKM Diamond Microfinance and several other companies were closed down in 2015 after the central bank realised they were operating illegally. The situation affected several business owners and depositors whose deposits have been locked up with the companies.

The aggrieved customers at a press conference on Monday September 5 called on President John Mahama to respond to their concerns quickly by directing the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to pay back their monies within two weeks.

Spokesperson for the group, Maxwell Mahama, addressing the media, said: “The Bank of Ghana had categorically stated that DKM was going to pay us back our deposits when they had injected a liquidity capital of GHS50million. We were again told by the Bank of Ghana we could receive our deposits from DKM starting from the 22 September 2015.”

“President John Dramani Mahama promised the chiefs of the Ntotroso Traditional Area in the Asutifi North district of the Brong Ahafo Region specifically on 29 June 2015 that he would ensure that the Bank of Ghana paid customers their deposits but it has been over a year now and nothing has happened.”

The group added: “On President John Dramani Mahama’s Accounting to the People tour in the Brong Ahafo Region and Upper East Region, he assured traditional leaders and customers to resolve the DKM matter urgently. How long shall we continue to wait? This is what we call lies, propaganda, and cheap politics by government to fool the people of the Brong Ahafo Region.

“We request Mr President to respond quickly by directing the governor of the Bank of Ghana to, in the next few days, pay us our money. If no action is taken within the next two weeks, we shall advise ourselves as customers.”