Chief Forges Flagstaff House Letterhead

THE OBUASI Divisional Police Command has arrested a sub-chief for allegedly forging documents of the Presidency to defraud some ex-casual workers of the AngloGold Ashanti, in Obuasi. Nana Kofi Karikari, a sub-Chief of Atwima Koforidua, was reportedly arrested upon orders of the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of Obuasi, Hon. Kwasi Ofori Agyemang, after victims of the said fraud, perpetuated by the Chief, appealed to him. According to information available to The Chronicle newspaper, Nana Karikari was picked up by the police on Tuesday, after it became evident that he had forged documents and letterheads from the Flag Staff House, claiming to assist ex-casual workers of AGA who were laid off some few years ago. The same suspect, according to investigations, was arrested on similar charges a year ago, but was granted bail upon advice of the Attorney General. Hon. Kwasi Ofori Agyemang, however, saud he caused the arrest of the suspect after he became convinced about the deceptive activities of Nana Karikari, who was said to have swindled the ex-workers under the pretext of assisting them to secure severance packages from the mining firm. He was said to have taken huge sums of monies from ex-casual workers who were battling the AGA over their severance awards. The MCE said he discovered that several documents in possession of Nana Karikari, including letterheads of the Flag Staff House, bearing fake signatures of some public officials, hence his decision to order his arrest. Meanwhile, the Obuasi Divisional Commander, ACP Berchie has confirmed the arrest of the suspect, but said he was yet to get details from the Divisional Crime Officer. ACP Berchie in an interview said the suspect was arrested somewhere last year for similar charges of fraud. He stated that dockets containing his arrest and investigations were forwarded to the Attorney General and Minster of Justice for advice, but the Command was yet to receive any directives from the AG. One of the victims of the suspect, Veronica Yawson, in an interview said Nana Karikari told them that at one time he was a powerful Chief linked to the Castle and the ruling NDC, and that he will be able to assist them recover all their monies from AGA. �At a point in time, he showed us pictures of him in full regalia; other times too he showed us his complimentary cards bearing logos of the NDC. He told us he knew people at higher places and that he would be able to help us, but he kept on lying to us,� she lamented.