Governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) General Secretary says there is circumstantial evidence which shows that the NPP are architects of a microfinance crisis that engulfed the Brong Ahafo region.

Johnson Asiedu Nketia said although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) publicly sympathises with the victims of the microfinance crisis, they are, in truth, shedding 'crocodile tears'.

In what has become a clear case of a ponzi scheme, DKM Diamond Microfinance Company Limited promised to pay outrageously high interest for deposits but failed to not only live up to this pledge but also squandered depositers monies on the managers' personal businesses.

What began with DKM later engulfed several other microfinance operations like God is Love, Mckeown Microfinance Limited, City Trust, Ezi Access Microfinance, Agapet Micro-finance, First Unity Microfinance Limited and Golden Life Microfinance Limited.

God Is Love Microfinance company reportedly owes GH¢80 million whist Jarstar Motors and Investment owes GH¢90 million.

The impact of the crisis spread from the Brong Ahafo to the Upper West and Volta Regions where branches of these companies were cited. Several angry clients have rushed to court to obtain orders to sell off some of the companies' properties.

A financial crisis which began in 2015 was considered a security threat as demonstrations were held in places such as Sunyani, Nkoranza and in Berekum, towns in the Brong Ahafo Region.

But it has also escalated into a political sparring point ahead of the 2016 general elections.

Speaking to Joy News Evans Mensah on the socio-political show The Pulse on JOYNEWS channel on Multi TV, the NDC General Secretary said facts point to the NPP as being behind the crisis.

"If you open your eyes widely you will find out that it is likely they [NPP] have something to do with that DKM thing," he said.

"They are happy that somebody has extorted the money and they are congratulating the people who have extorted the money," he told Joy News Evans Mensah.

Even worse, the NPP has gone ahead to "reward" architects of the financial crisis with opportunities to enter parliament on the party's ticket, he said.

Citing examples, Mr Asiedu Nketia said the NPP parliamentary candidate for Kintampo South Alexander Gyan is a teacher and businessman who was the head of God is Love Fun club in Kintampo.

Photo: Alex Gyan

"Nana Addo has gone there to raise his [Alex Gyan] hand to say that he is a wonderful person," the popular NDC political strategist revealed.

He said the Fanteakwa North NPP Member of Parliament, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah operated a rural bank which also went bust.

Photo: Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah 

According to him, the NPP MP has promised to pay the victims if Akufo-Addo wins the 2016 general elections.

He also mentioned the Builsa South constituency in the Upper East region where the NPP parliamentary candidate Daniel Gariba operated as an agent of DKM in the region.

"He has been rewarded with parliamentary candidature and NPP is campaigning to make him a member of parliament," he said. 

Daniel Gariba

"NPP's conduct seems to suggest that the people who are involved are heroes who must be rewarded with parliamentary seats," the NDC General Secretary said.

Continuing with his analysis, Mr Asiedu Nketia said the lawyer for the victims of the DKM seeking the recovery of the monies is also NPP Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman Kwaku Asomah-Kyeremeh.

"If you have such a situation and NPP is going around the region saying that they are sympathising with the customers then where is their stand?" he quizzed.

According to him, NPP parliamentary candidates are leading agitations from the victims against the NDC government demanding that their monies be recovered.

Mr Asiedu Nketia says the NPP campaign promise to recover the lost deposits to victims of the crisis could be another evidence linking the opposition party to the crisis.

Nana Akufo-Addo gave the promise during his interaction with the chiefs and people of Busunya in the Nkoranza North constituency, to end his 5-day tour of the Region in July 2016.

"Where are they going to refund the money from if it is not from the collections they have made or from the government funds?" he demanded to know.

He dismissed suggestions that the crisis will boost the NPP's chance of winning the Brong Ahafo regional vote.

According to him, the NPP is jubilating that because the hardest-hit areas of the crisis are in NDC strong districts such as the Nkoranza North and South, Techiman North and South, it will translate into votes against the governing NDC.

For the NDC General Secretary, this will not work because the victims are being conscientised to appreciate the reality that the NPP has stolen monies of NDC supporters.

"NPP is running from the DKM issue because the facts are out there that DKM has nothing to do with NDC ....and the people are now opening the eyes and seeing the true picture", Asiedu Nketia insisted.

Asiedu Nketia said angry DKM victims are "victims of misinformation". He is therefore on a personal campaign to let the affected persons know the NPP is behind the crisis.

"I will continue telling them that", he vowed.

Will they believe you, host Evans Mensah asked. "Why not? Doesn't it make sense?" he rebutted.

 

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