Nana Addo Clears Mahama’s Mess …As Gov’t Pays Off Over 90% of Lost DKM Funds

Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, has debunked claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was doing little to address issues regarding the DKM Micro Finance Scam which overwhelmed Ghanaians in 2016.

According to him, the government under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, has fulfilled its promise to victims of the Ponzi Scheme, by paying over 90 per cent of what was due them.

“98 per cent of deposits ranging between GH¢10 and GH¢10,000 have been cleared. Beyond that, between GH¢10,000 and GH¢50,000, about 90 per cent of funds of depositors of DKM have also been cleared,” Mr. Hadzide told Accra based GHOne TV on Saturday.

The information minister was responding to comments by former president, John Mahama that victims were yet to receive compensation from the said scam.

Speaking at Wamfie in the Dormaa East Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region on Saturday, Mr. Mahama said the governing party in the heat of the 2016 presidential election campaign, promised it was going to retrieve monies of customers who lost their savings after investing with the microfinance company.

He said, “When we were in office, the NPP lied that DKM belonged to my wife and I. Today, you are in power, you know who DKM belongs to. You promised that you will collect the people’s money for them when you come into power. Please collect their DKM money and give it back to them.”

These comments by the former president according to Mr. Hadzide is disappointing and an exhibition of “a sheer lack of knowledge.”

“He appears quite ignorant about what is happening on the ground and it appears that the former president has lost touch with the ordinary people of this country. He clearly is unaware of the development

happening around him,” the minister said.

He further revealed that DKM depositors who had invested over GH¢50,000, have also had some percentages refunded to them while negotiations continue with the liquidator to peacefully offset the remaining debt.

According to the minister, rescuing the DKM victims from that financial disaster, is just a drop of Mahama’s mess that has been cleared.

You Lose, You Lose

Meanwhile, Vice President of policy think-tank IMANI Africa, Mr. Kofi Bentil says Government has no legal nor moral responsibility to pay people their lost investment.

Taking his turn at an economic dialogue organized by the Media General Group, last week, Mr. Bentil said Ghanaians must get rid of the ‘emotional notion’ that they would be sorted by government when they get jilted in a Ponzi.

“I’m aware certain people were paid some money…one of these days somebody should sue them for wasting our [tax payers] money,” he noted.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey