Unit committee accused of extortion

Kumasi (Ashanti), 10th July 99, --

Madam Essi Panin, a baker at Asawasi in Kumasi, has accused the Asawasi "G" line unit committee of extorting 370,000 cedis from her under the pretext of allocating her a piece of land, but which they have failed to do.

She mentioned Mr Collins Ofosu, the assemblyman for the Seven Up electoral area at Asawasi who referred her to the committee, as an accomplice.

In a complaint to the Asawasihene and copied to the Asawasi community association, Madam Panin said she approached the assemblyman for a piece of land to erect a temporary structure for her flour mill.

She said the assemblyman referred her to the unit committee who interviewed her and told her that they would allocate the land to her.

However, the unit committee members asked her to pay 300,000 cedis into its accounts, 50,000 cedis to the members who would supervise the construction of the structure, and 20,000 cedis for the purchase of papers.

She said the whole amount of 370,000 cedis was collected by one Dan Adams alias "Ake", but in spite of the committee's promise to ensure that she would not face any obstacles, residents of "G" line have stopped her from erecting the structure and her money has not been refunded.

Madam Panin has therefore appealed to the Asawasihene to intervene.

GRi?/