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Another Savings and Loans Company, Commerz Savings and Loans has denied having any link with embattled former Managing Director of collapsed Capital Bank, William Ato Essien.

According to the company, Capital Bank just acted as a clearing bank for Commerz from February 2017 until it was taken over by the GCB Bank.

A statement issued by the solicitors of the company, stated categorically that Mr Ato Essien is not and has never been a related party to Commerz Savings and Loans.

Nordea Capital Limited

Meanwhile, the management of Nordea Capital Limited has also dissociated itself from Mr Ato Essien.

The company also states that it only acted as an arranger for commercial paper issued by MC Management Services and Breitling Services with Capital Bank as the investor.

It clarified that the role the companies played fall within the authorized business of Nordea Capital as an Investment Banking and Asset Management Firm.

Earlier media report suggested that Mr. Essien injected 65 million cedis into Nordea hence is one of his numerous companies. But the company refutes the assertion.

Background

The management of defunct Capital Bank used liquidity support given by the Bank of Ghana as capital to secure a license for another collapsed bank, Sovereign Bank.

A report seen by Citi News said an emergency board and Executive Committee meeting on October 13, 2015, noted concern with the manner in which the Ghc 610 million liquidity support to the struggling bank was being used.

The monies were moved by a member of the Board, Ato Essien into companies believed to be owned by him and others.

The rest of the money was used to set up the Sovereign Bank.

“Funds raised through the commercial paper issuance by MC Management Services Limited and Breitling Services were used as capitalization for the establishment of the Sovereign Bank Limited.

“The placement of GHc 130 MC to Alltime Capital and GHc with Nordea Capital, was a round-tripping of the liquidity support from Bank of Ghana to set up Sovereign Bank,” the report said.

The report also indicated that Dr. Mensa Otabil may have been party to the misuse of liquidity support given the bank by the Bank of Ghana.

Among the flagged transactions were GHc 27.5 million used for business promotion and handled by a board member; transfers to IFS amounting to GHc 23.9 million, transfers to Nordea Capital amounting to GHc 65 million, and transfers to Alltime Capital amounting to GHc 130 million.

Concerning Alltime Capital, the report noted that “Mr. Ato Essien stated that the placement of GHc 130m with Alltime Capital was strategic and funds would be paid back by March 2016.”

Dr. Otabil also assured management that he would ensure the funds were returned by March 2016.