MP accused of stealing GH¢293K; summoned by police

The Takoradi Central Police has invited Member of Parliament for Ahanta West and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr. George Aboagye, for questioning.

The decision follows a complaint lodged with the police by the Bratuo Family of Ankyernyin, Beahu and Agyam, who are accusing the MP of allegedly stealing Ghc293, 000 being proceeds from the sale of their land.

The Divisional Commander confirmed the story when The Chronicle contacted him and said they had already extended an invitation to the MP to report and answer to the charge that has been levelled against him.

Mr. George Aboagye on his part confirmed that he had been invited by the police but was yet to report, as at the time of speaking to The Chronicle.

Information obtained by The Chronicle indicates that in 2012, the Bratuo Family of Ankyernyin, Beahu and Agyam sold a 280.49-acre land to Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited, which is represented in Ghana by Chris Wilmot, a Takoradi-based business tycoon, at the cost of about Ghc4.027 million.

The terms of the contract, which was signed on July 30, 2012, between BREWMO Ghana Limited, agents of the family and Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited, states that after the Landowners had executed the title deed, Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited shall pay 50 percent of the total cost of the land to the landowners, through BREWMO Ghana Limited, their agent.

The remaining 50% of the purchase price shall be paid to the landowners through the same Brewmo Ghana Limited after the title deed has been perfected and handed over to Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited.

The Chronicle established that based on this agreement, Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited issued a cheque for Ghc860, 000 and called Mr. Brew Moses, the chief Executive Officer of BREWMO, the agent who signed the agreement on behalf of the family with the purchaser for it and for onward transmission to the family.

Unfortunately, Moses Brew was recuperating from a lorry accident and, therefore, directed that the cheque be issued in the name of G.K.A African Trade Service, a company owned by the MP, George Aboagye. The idea was for Aboagye to cash the cheque and give the money to the family.

Mr. George Aboagye, upon receipt of the cheque from Oceanic Properties Limited through his company, as directed by Brew Moses, issued an Ecobank cheque (number 000239 0134406274501) dated December 12, 2012, covering an amount of Ghc532, 667 instead of Ghc860, 000, which was the face value of the original cheque issued by Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited to cover 25% payment of Ghc4,027,360 – being the original cost of the land.

Mr. Francis Kobina Eghan, senior head of the Bratuo Family who also confirmed that a report had been made to the police over the issue, told The Chronicle that when they realized that the amount paid to them was short of the Ghc860,000 that they were expecting, the family called Mr. George Aboagye on phone for an explanation, but he surprisingly told them that he had deducted tax from the money, an explanation they did not accept and hence the decision to report the matter to the police.

Mr. Francis Kobina Eghan, popularly known as ‘Abatan’, further told The Chronicle he had on behalf of the family written a letter to Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited not to make any further payment to the MP.

In the letter titled’ Release of 280.49 acre Land situated at Punpuni Near Takoradi for the Development of Steel Complex’, Abaatan wrote: “We, the undersigned owners of the above land, wish to advise the withdrawal and participation of Mr. George Aboagye with immediate effect in any transaction on the land.

“The decision has been necessitated due to serious financial anomalies he has committed against the family heads on the first payment of 25%. We, therefore, direct that the balance should be paid through BREWMO limited who is our accredited agent’.

Mr. Kobina Eghan further told The Chronicle that the letter he sent to the buyers of the property did not go down well with the MP, but Oceanic Properties Ghana Limited has nevertheless paid the rest of the money to the family.

Responding to the allegation, Mr. George Aboagye told The Chronicle that he brought down the investors to purchase the land in question when he was the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council.

According to him, the family agreed to charge Ghc10, 000.00 for an acre of land but he, as a businessman, sold an acre for Ghc15, 000.00.

MP Aboagye further told The Chronicle that he deducted the tax because he sold the land in the name of his company.

Meanwhile, the accredited agent of the family, Moses Brew has confirmed to The Chronicle that he had filed a case of alleged stealing at the Takoradi Central Police Station against the MP.