Stanbic Bank produces cheque used to cash $150,000 for people of Banka
Stanbic Bank has finally produced the original cheque that was used by the Chief of Banka, Nana Osaberima Twiampoma III, in cashing $150,000 belonging to the people of Banka.
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Delays by the bank in producing the cheque previously had occasioned two adjournments by the Accra High Court trying the case but with the cheque being made available now, the prosecution witness, Mr Wallace Bruce Cathline, would be led by state prosecutor, Mr Mathew Amponsah, to tender it in court when the case resumes on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.
Charge
Fifty-two-year-old Nana Osaberima Twiampomah III is charged with stealing to which he has pleaded not guilty.
He is on bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with a surety to be justified and under bond not to travel pending the determination of the case. He has also deposited a title deed to the court which is equivalent to $150,000.
Gulf Coast Resources, a mining company, had paid the said amount to the people of Banka for the development of the town, following 10 years of mining activities in the area.
Nana Twiampomah had told the court that the money was meant for his personal use.
A witness, Mr Wallace Bruce Cathline, had told an Accra Fast Track High Court how he presented the cheque, meant for the people of Banka, to the chief.
Mr Cathline, a lawyer who works with Minka Premo and Co. Chamber in Accra, admitted during cross-examination that he personally handed over the cheque for $150,000, payable through the Stanbic Bank, meant for the people of Banka, to Nana Osaberima Twiampomah III.
Facts
According to the prosecutor, in 2000, Gulf Coast Resources Limited (GCRL) acquired a mining lease for a period of 10 years from the Minerals Commission to mine gold on Banka lands. The mining lease expired in 2010.
When the lease expired, GCRL wrote a letter to the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Natural Resources for renewal.
According to Mr Amponsah, in a letter dated June 10, 2010, the accused person and the people of Banka petitioned the ministry not to renew the lease because GCRL failed to fulfil its corporate social responsibility for the period the land was leased to it.
Following that challenge, GCRL entered into negotiations with the accused and the people of Banka during which the company promised to pay $150,000 to the community for development purposes.
Later, the accused and his people, in a letter dated January 13, 2011, wrote to the ministry to withdraw their petition and the mining lease was renewed for another 10 years, starting from 2011.
Mr Amponsah said after the mining lease was renewed, GCRL paid the agreed amount and subsequently transferred its rights to another mining company, Banka Gold Limited.
Payment
According to the prosecution, GCRL paid the amount as per Stanbic Bank cheque number 534403 on June 14, 2011. It was received and acknowledged by the accused, who issued a signed receipt on June 14, 2011.