BoG proves payment to African Automobile

The Banking Division of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) yesterday gave to the Judgement Debt Commission a photocopy of a cheque issued for the payment demanded by African Automobile Limited from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in respect of certain Mitsubishi vehicles the company had supplied to the ministry.
The money was paid in relation to the servicing and maintenance of the vehicles.

The cheque, cleared on December 10, 2012, was in the sum of GH¢4,159,010.38.

Mr Paul Mensah-Eshun, the Chief Manager in charge of the Banking Division of the BoG, submitted the documents when he appeared at the commission’s sitting at the Old Parliament House in Accra.

That was after he had been asked by the commission to produce the documents for examination to ascertain whether or not the company genuinely deserved the payment.

Africa Automobile Limited is at the commission to demand payments with regard to the supply, servicing and maintenance of Mitsubishi vehicles supplied to some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Although some MDAs invited by the commission admitted receiving the vehicles from the company, they said they had settled all amounts due the company. Others, however, said they had never been supplied with any vehicle(s).

Kojo Abban and Co.

Next to appear was the Principal Technical Officer of Kojo Abban and Co. Limited, Mr Samuel Apo Kumah.

He told the commission that the company was still searching for documents, including the company’s tax returns.

The commission had, at an earlier sitting, asked Mr Kumah to produce the company’s registered documents and tax returns.

When asked by counsel for the commission, Mr Dometi Kofi Sokpor, whether or not he had brought the documents, he said, “My Lord, we are still searching for those documents.”

“I have notified our counsel that we are still searching for those documents to submit to the commission,” he said.

But the Sole Commissioner, Mr Justice Yaw Apau, wondered why there were difficulties in getting the said documents, since the company could easily access them at the Registrar General’s Department.

Sitting was adjourned to November 4, 2013.

By Emmanuel Bonney/Daily Graphic/Ghana