The Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Enam Hadzide has explained how the fugitive CEO of Menzgold Ghana Limited, Nana Appiah Mensah got a now-famous photo opportunity with President Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Hadzide, Nana Appiah Mensah popularly known as NAM 1 was part of a 10-member Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Confederation African Football (CAF) delegation that paid a courtesy call on Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on Thursday declared NAM 1 a wanted man over the operations of his gold dealership firm Menzgold.
The Police also revealed that they have requested for a Red Notice from the International Police (INTERPOL) making NAM 1 a wanted man in 194 countries.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM Wednesday, Mr Hadzide said the picture which has been circulated widely on social media platforms was taken after that meeting between Akufo-Addo and CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.
He said the President discussed Ghana’s intention to host the 2018 Women’s AFCON with Mr Ahmad.
Mr Hadzide who was the then Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports explained that NAM 1 was included in the delegation because at the time, one of his company’s Zylofon Cash was the headline sponsors of the Ghana Premier League.
He said any assertions by political opponents that the picture convinced people to sign onto Menzgold Ghana Limited investments was unfortunate because it suggests that the customers lacked the apparatus intelligence to decide on where to invest their monies.
He said some mischievous persons have sought to create the impression that the President endorsed the business of Menzgold during a visit to the company.
Background checks
However, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George has questioned the circumstances that led to NAM 1 – whose business had been declared unlawful by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of Ghana – was allowed into the Jubilee House without a security check.
According to him, celebrities who associated with NAM 1 could be forgiven for doing but not the Presidency because they do not have the benefit of conducting background checks using the entire state apparatus.
Speaking in an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, he said that photograph and subsequent posts by the Presidency on social media was a tacit endorsement of Menzgold’s operations.
Source: Graphic online