Samuel Agyarko, the chairman of Menzgold's customers in the Western Region, is skeptical that the list purportedly containing actual customers is actually attached to money that Nana Appiah Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct company, deposited with the Ghana Police Service for later disbursement.
"NAM1 attached a list of about 108 names of people who were supposed to be customers and were asking to be paid when he deposited the money," he said.
He stressed, however, that "previous incidents have demonstrated that NAM1 cannot be trusted, and as a result, we mistrust the veracity of the identities of the people on that list. It's possible that he simply made up those names in order for the money to finally return to him when it's paid, in which case he "does not trust the list."
"Even in the announcement he made to announce the money's deposit, he stated five million, which is untrue. As to the Police statement, he actually deposited 2.5 million.
Following a meeting with the Ghana Police Service in Accra, Mr. Agyarko reiterated his request to the Ghana Police Service and the judiciary to thoroughly verify that all the names on the list are, in fact, real customers. He stated that "it will be sad that monies will be paid to the wrong people" during the interview with journalists in Takoradi.
In any event, choosing who among the consumers gets paid is outside of NAM1's purview. All impacted customers and pertinent parties should decide that collectively.
Menzgold has permanently harmed families.
Eleven Menzgold clients have passed away in the Western region so far this year, according to Mr. Agyarko.
"We validated our members in the area lately, and we had 10,000 people. And seeing some of them in that condition would make you quite sad. Some of them lost their lives, some became bedridden from worrying about losing their money, and some developed mental illnesses.
"One individual in particular is imprisoned for more than GH¢1.2 million. He needed GH200,000 to travel to India for a transplant, but it did not work out for him. You ought to examine how he is currently feeling. It is extremely painful that you are unable to use the money you have earned for yourself to take care of yourself.
"To fully understand what I'm talking about, it would be best if you followed us the next time we went around to visit some of our members.
"The money might arrive, but we're not sure when. But the harm done will never be erased by it.
