Extortion in Kosovo: More Revelations

The UN worker investigating the “extortion charges in Kosovo” has collected more information he hopes to present to the UN in due course, if action is not taken by the Ghana govt.

According to the source, before the peacekeeper enplaned for Kosovo, they were coerced into signing a document stating that they would pay US $1900 after their service.

The break down of the payment was as follows:

Winter clothing US 600 dollars
Refund of per diem US 300 dollars
Development fund US 1000 dollars

The “development fund” amount quoted above contradicts with the amount quoted by Chief Staff Officer Assistant Commissioner James Oppon-Boanuh’s to a local paper. He claimed the figure was pegged at 500 dollars.

According to one officer, the amounts quoted above were surprising and ambiguous. Thus, they demanded an explanation and wanted to know specifically why the $300 per Diem was to be refunded.

“We continued to challenge this issue with Mr. Kwesi Nkansah, stating further that the meaning of per diem and the refund of per diem was very ridiculous. Emphatically, we stated that our understanding of per diem is an allowance for any government official traveling for the benefit of his/her nation. Why should it be refunded?” he continued

Having been cornered by their RIGHT interpretation for PER DIEM, the Kosovo-bound officers were then informed instantly that they should presume the “per diem” to be a LOAN.

“Another ridicule to words and meaning and even legality. So, per diem is equal to loan, according to an interpretation given by Kwesi Nkansah and his team who visited us before our departure.” said an officer, who identified himself as tintin

On the day of our departure to kosovo, the officer incharge was D.S.P Mr. Aboagye of the protocol unit he was instructed by Mr.Kwasi Nkansah

“Furthermore, we were told that anyone who refuses to sign the undertaking looses his/her chance of going on the mission and would be immediately replaced. “ tintin continued

“Having taken into consideration the preparation and loans collected by some of us for purchase of things needed for the journey and part of these loans left for dependants, there was nothing anyone could do than to sign the document.”

The intention of the police administration was to make the officers sign the document at the last minute, prior to departure, so nobody had the chance to complain.

When the officers arrived on the mission ground, in Kosovo, they paid for hotel lodging and for food, for a week’s stay, from the $300 per diem given them before moving into their respective duty points. So what was the justification for the refund of the PER DIEM?

“..and now they collect $500 from us. We are fed up with these extortions and are no more willing to pay this so call refunds, because we signed the said document under DURESS. We would have gladly paid the development levy if we knew it was really used for development, but we are convinced this.”

“Ghana Police Service belongs to the government in power and all must be done by the gov't to see to it that it functions to help in their enforcement of law and order, but not taking unlawful monies from us to build castles in the air” an officer said

“I am saying this, because we are very tired with the way we are being handled like ZOMBIES. We have for so many years worked like "zombies" moving according to the tunes of most senior Police Officers, who use their offices to silence energetic and brilliant outspoken officers into "dumbness" he concluded