Latest developments in the case in which the Ghana government has been ordered by a United States District Court to settle payment claims to Delta Foods Ltd, a Ghanaian company show a dramatic turn for the worse.
From the grapevine, it is now learnt that Ghana government’s claim of diplomatic immunity cover for its assets in the event of attachment has been dismissed. Information reaching us is that Ghana government’s counsel in the United States says having lost on every decision-affecting Delta he will not longer oppose the company’s efforts to enforce the judgment. Ghana Government has been ordered to disclose within the next seven days all the financial and other information requested by Delta Foods or face sanctions of contempt. In furtherance of this order, Delta’s solicitors shall be conducting depositions under oath of Ghana Embassy’s employees and other witnesses who have knowledge of all the Ghana Government’s assets in the United States. The United States District court, using every harsh language it could muster, has ordered the Ghana Government to identify all of its assts and accounts in the US and to turn over the Ghana Embassy’s banking records.To this end, the Ghana Government is requested to provide the following:
- A full and accurate particularization of its assets and bank accounts within seven days.
- Ghana government employees (and other Embassy representatives with knowledge) promptly appear for examination under oath regarding the government’s assets in the US and
- That the Ghana Government, on pain of sanctions, refrain from transferring assets.
