The newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Twifo-Atti Morkwaa Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. David Vondee has allegedly defrauded an International property developer, Africa REI, of a whooping sum of US$2.5 million.
David Vondee who is a businessman and Director of Klenham Construction Company some three years ago, defrauded Africa REI (Adentan) Limited.
Information received indicates that, three years ago, Africa REI (Adentan) Limited entered into a joint venture with Sir Sam Jonah’s Mobus Property Group and AREIL Ghana Limited from Mauritius.
AREIL Ghana Limited was ready to invest US$500m in convenience retail malls across Ghana, and entered into a 99-year Agreement of Lease with Mr. Vondee and his wife, both directors of Klenham Construction.
However, Mr. Vondee failed to disclose to the parties that the transaction he had entered into, was not paid for, and only 10% deposit had been paid by his company.
He also failed to pay the balance to the allodia land owner in Adentan.
Directors of the Company reported the matter to the Police CID for investigations over fraud.
According to Directors of Africa REI (Adentan) Limited during the end of 2020, they received a call from the CID officer in charge of the investigations, Mr. Adabla, that the Attorney General’s office had returned Mr. Vondee’s docket with instructions to add a charge of money laundering to his charges of fraud.
“We also understand (although we cannot be certain), that the Attorney General has instructed Mr. Adabla to begin the process of tracing the money he defrauded, and identifying assets belonging to Mr. Vondee that can be seized if he is found guilty. Our concern is why has It has taken three years to get to this point and will Mr. Vondee’s new role make it harder for the AG to successfully bring charges against him?” they ask.
The company also enumerated that apart from the financial losses that had caused the company and their shareholders, amid the failure of the project due to Mr. Vondee’s fraud has cost Ghanaians jobs, livelihoods and economic opportunity by an individual who ran for public office promising the same.
“To date, despite our directors laying a criminal complaint with the Police CID Division against Mr. Vondee, not only has he not faced trial, but criminal charges are still being finalized by the Attorney General in Accra. The CID prepared a docket against Mr. Vondee, concluded investigations and sent the docket to the Attorney General more than a year ago. The wheels of justice seem to have all but ground to a halt,” they averred.
According to the company, in addition to the political environment, long term investors mainly require two things when investing in other markets; property rights and effective law enforcement, and that Ghanaian authorities must consider the implications and the message the dragged-out investigation sends to investors from around the world that are considering investing in Ghana.
They believed that Mr. Vondee might have funded his political ambitions and election campaign through the proceeds of crime, keeping in mind that their transaction took place not long after his failed election bid in 2016.
“In the December 2020 election, Mr. Vondee once again stood for the position and won as a parliamentary candidate for the Twifo-Atti Morkwa Constituency, which also raises serious questions about how he was allowed to run for office by the NDC.
“The questions remain over whether he funded his political campaign after defrauding international property developer company Africa REI (Adentan) and why the AG is dragging its feet in finalizing charges against him,” the Company Directors demanded.
Mr. Vondee defeated Mr. Ebenezer Dwamena in the December 7, 2020 elections to take over the Twifo-Atti Morkwaa seat in the Central region in Parliament.
