Premium Bank, one of the universal banks in Ghana has declined to comment about allegations by one Akwasi Boakye Osei, that the bank sold off his warehouse, a property valued at US$15 Million dollars for US$500,000 without recourse to him.
Akwasi Boakye took a facility of US$500,000 from then City Investment Company, now Premium Bank to undertake a project and used the warehouse as collateral.
He is currently domiciled in the United States of America where he is seeking asylum.
Uncle to Akwesi Aboagye, Mr. Isaac Acheampong, said he only received a call from the occupants of Mr. Boakye’s 8 acre warehouse in Tema that some officials from the bank and the Police had invaded the place to auction the facility.
“They did this without notice; they did not send us any letter from the court as they are claiming. This is not fair. We live in a country not a jungle. If they want to do such a thing they must first notify us then we find money to pay them but to get up and go and auction a facility valued at US$15 million dollars for US500,000 is dubious” he fumed.
Mr Acheampong told this paper that “My nephew took a loan of 500,000 thousand dollars from a bank whiles he was on political asylum. He processed the loan through email transaction. He did not physically appear at the bank. So if today the same bank is telling us that they couldn’t find my nephew to serve him with their notice, then it is ridiculous, because they know his office at Osu and he is still using the same email he used to process the loan. How can you auction a property of fifteen million dollars for five hundred thousand dollars? “,
“The United Nations Principles and guidelines states that measures should be taken to minimize the inconvenience to victims and their representatives, protect against unlawful interference with their privacy as of their families and witnesses, before, during and after judicial, administrative or other proceedings that affect the interest of victims”.
It states further that assistance should be provided to victims seeking access to justice , make available all appropriate legal , diplomatic and consular means to ensure that victims can exercise their rights to remedy for gross violation of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law. In addition to individual access to justice states should endeavor to develop procedures to allow groups of victims to present claims for reparation and to receive reparation as appropriate”, he stated.
“So what they are doing is a violation of the principles and guidelines of the UN in relation to the rights of Refugees and we will take this issue the international criminal court to seeks justice if they don’t refrain from this act of illegal acquisition and auction, he added
The warehouse in contention
Last week the New Crusading GUIDE visited the head office of the bank at OSU, opposite Country Kitchen to undertake further investigation on the issue.
The receptionist, who identified herself only as Keizia stated that the legal team had left the office for a meeting outside and requested that we submit a letter. This was done with the promise that it would be delivered and responded appropriately. However, five days after, there has not been any response. Yesterday, this reporter called the office again and the receptionist confirmed that she delivered the letter to the head of legal the same day it was submitted but there was no response. The New Crusading GUIDE is still delving into the issue and will inform readers about the outcome.
