A US national and international director for Primary Group Global Foundation, a Non-Governmental agency, Michael Bass has accused the state and some local banks of sidelining his organisation from accessing humanitarian funds meant for the development of the country.

Speaking to the media on October 30, 2025, at the International Press Conference Center in Accra, lawyer for Michael Bass, Ghanamannti Wayoe, accused Republic Bank, ADB, UMB, Listowel Nana Kusi Poku, Nana Yaw Appiah, and some six other individuals of circumventing his client and organisation from accessing $80 billion he introduced into the country from an Italian financial corporation.

He explained that part of the funds he introduced to the country is what the state is using to fund the government’s Big Push Agenda and other projects.

“I was then taken to a meeting with the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on March 3, 2025, accompanied by a gentleman by the name Listowell, also Kwame Nuako, and Nana Yaw Appiah.

"In this meeting, I presented the MAEC documents to the Chief of Staff and informed him that we will need multiple banks in the country to bring all the funds necessary to complete the projects. The chief of staff asked me to leave it with him, and it will be done," Michael Bass said.

Michael Bass further detailed how he was directed to open accounts with ADB and UMB, which he did on May 20 and June 22, 2025, respectively.

He additionally claimed that after being vetted by the banks, including Republic Bank, where he also opened an account on October 28, 2024, he added that just when the funds were about to hit the respective accounts, all of the banks had seized any form of communication with him. All the people he shared sensitive information with had abandoned him. 

“In October, 2024, Republic Bank issued us a letter, stating that upon the due diligence coming back positive, they were prepared to conduct the protocol agreed to by MAEC, to bring $100 million a month in tranches for 48 months for projects to be accomplished in Ghana… and when calling the CEO of UMB, he heard my voice and hung up on me, we have clear reason to suspect that we have been circumvented by all parties.

“During this time, Mr Addison, Kwame Nuako, Listowel, Nana Yaw Appiah, and Daniel Ewusie were attending meetings in the banks, as they were the introducers to the banks, via the Chief of Staff. Based upon the information that they all provided me, everything was moving positively with the banks, especially Republic. At this point, Mr Addison took over communication between Nana Owusu-Manu and me and would not allow me to communicate directly with the bank, removing me from daily updates of progression with the bank," he said.


He included that "Republic Bank proceeded to drag us along for 10 months, while promising to issue the Indemnity Agreement, and to complete the issuance of the protocol documents to bring in the first, and subsequent tranches of the funds from MAEC. After all of this time, and with all parties constantly convincing me that everything was moving fine with the banks, and after listening to Nana Yaw Appiah informing me that Listowel and he were attempting to set a meeting between the MD of Republic and me, which never occurred, and I was blocked from meeting the MD of Republic Bank."

Michael Bass, however, is pleading with President John Dramani Mahama to commence an investigation into the issue and call all individuals to order.

He also pleaded with the president to ensure that his part of the said amount is given to him.

“We’re pleading that this reaches President Mahama’s ears and we are hoping that be designated it to the Chief of Staff maybe he is not aware of what took place. He is aware is that the funding came. We are hoping this reaches his ears and he do the right thing,” Abass pleaded.