The staff of troubled gold-trading firm, Menzgold Company Limited, who were recently asked by the CEO, Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM1) to proceed on leave until 20 December 2018, have lamented that: “Our loyalty to both company and clients led to four months with no pay so as to bring an end to this crisis while they (management) live lavishly without remorse”.

The staff revealed that while they believed in Menzgold and had confidence in its operations, and, so, invested heavily in the gold collectables product of the company, the management members did not demonstrate the same confidence in their own product.

“It is also sad to note that while staff believed in the product of the company, management members did not”, the staff said in a press statement, adding that:

“An investigation into the trading pattern of management showed they had very little transactions even compared to most staff who invested heavily into the company”, adding that:

“Some comments of management members such as: ‘I have acquired enough to live a good life should the company fold up’, and many more in recent times depict their intention”.

The staff have also accused the management members of Menzgold of living extravagant and profligate lifestyles even as the company is in crisis and struggles to find money to pay several thousands of aggrieved clients whose investments are locked up with the firm.

According to them, the management members are secretly selling off assets of the company and keeping the proceeds for themselves, with the intention of relocating outside the country to enjoy their booty.

“We also wish to inform clients that management has started selling off assets for personal gain and to also settle their close friends."

“We confirm the travel plans of management members outside the country. Some tried and have been deported”, the staff said.

Apart from the warnings and directives from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which led to Menzgold’s shutdown, thus, the crisis, the staff said the management members of the company are partly to blame.

“It is unfortunate to say that aside from certain external forces which caused this crisis, internal misappropriation is a key factor”, they claimed, explaining:

“Management members have fraudulently acquired properties such as luxury houses, schools, flashy and luxury cars and many more to dwindle the finances of the company. We, therefore, wish that EOCO investigates them”.

As far as the payment of clients’ locked-up investments is concerned, the staff revealed that:

“We confirm that management members are secretly paying off clients without a proper schedule and assurance to other clients. This makes their act suspicious and unfair whenever money is made available. Research conducted reveals that the powers in governance are aiding persons to retrieve funds but these same powers are reluctant in seeking the best solution for all”.