General News of Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Source: peacefmonline.com

Impression that Nduom might be siphoning GN Bank deposits is 'most unfair' - Pratt

Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper

Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has expressed worry over EOCO's invitation to Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, disqualified Presidential candidate of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), to account for the source of GHC 1.7 million nomination fees he paid for the party's Parliamentary candidates and himself.

The EOCO demands answers on how he acquired the money as well as that of his own GHC 50,000 filing fees he paid from a GN Bank account.

The Monday edition of the Daily Graphic splashed on its front page and the story sought to create an impression that Dr. Nduom was using deposits of customers to fund his political party.

Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt stated that the treatment meted out to Dr. Nduom is "very most unfair".

According to him, creating the impression that Dr. Nduom may have been siphoning deposits of customers of the GN Bank may cripple the bank.

He noted that the customers may attempt to withdraw their deposits from the bank and this may not help strengthen it.

“It’s very unfair to the bank. It’s most unfair to the bank because customer deposit is very sensitive issue.”

Mr. Pratt asked the EOCO to invite the qualified Presidential candidates to also render account on how they funded their campaigns, adding lots of financial contributions go into every campaign and so Dr. Nduom and Hassan Ayariga of the APC are not the only candidates who spent much on the campaigns and forms.

He further wondered why a letter purported to have been addressed to Dr. Nduom by the EOCO was given to the Daily Graphic when there's no indication that the letter has been delivered to Dr. Nduom.

He also was of a strong view that claims that President John Dramani Mahama is behind the EOCO's invite should not be entertained.

Also touching on the issue on 'Kokrokoo', Nana Boakye, NPP Communicator, agreed to Mr. Pratt's submissions and also stressed that it's unfair for the GN Bank to be dragged into the issue.

To him, GN Bank is a corporate entity and not an individual bank; so it cannot be purported that Dr. Nduom may have exploited the bank for his political gains.