The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has advised managers and staff of financial institutions not to allow greed to get the better of them and resort to dubious means to enrich themselves.
That, he explained, would jeopardise the investments of the owners and shareholders, savings of customers and eventually land them in jail. He also advised that those with such ambitions should resign from all financial institutions.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was addressing the board, management and staff of Best Point Savings and Loans at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, said working in banking institutions was a normal employment opportunity which offered the employee the chance to help grow investments, assist customers to expand their businesses and develop the country.
Mr Ernest Sarpong and Mr Osei Kwame, also known as Kwame Despite, said they were at Manhyia to inform Otumfuo about their readiness to establish a branch of Best Point Savings and Loans in Kumasi.
The managers were also at Manhyia to ask Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to serve as the special guest of honour at the official opening of the Kumasi branch, to which he obliged and assured them of a firm date soon.
Just this week, a former accountant of J Adom Limited, a construction company in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, and the manager of the Sunyani branch of Zenith Bank, were jailed by a Sunyani High Court for stealing and money laundering.
A Tarkwa Circuit Court in July this year remanded a 36-year-old cashier of the Asankrangwa branch of the HFC bank into prison custody for allegedly stealing GH¢48,950 belonging to the bank.
In August this year, a staff member of the Ecobank Ghana appeared before an Accra High Court for allegedly stealing over GH¢1million from his employers.
Four persons who were accused of stealing GH¢823,120.00 belonging to the state appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. The money, believed to be pension benefits, were purportedly paid into the accounts of some beneficiaries whose relations had passed on.
The accused included an accountant with the Controller and Accountant Generals’ Department (CAGD) and a staff of CAGD who is attached to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
According to Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the growth of the country and its ability to create the needed employment openings for the growing number of youth in the country were tied to the progress of the private sector.
He noted that the sector must be offered all the requisite support and assistance to ensure that they would realise their full potential for the advancement of the socio-economic improvement of the country.
He commended Mr Osei Kwame Despite for his humility in dealing with people and foresight in creating employment opportunities through the establishment of a number of companies.
The Asantehene noted with pride that through humility and integrity, Osei Kwame Despite had been expanding his business empire and advised him not to engage in any unnecessary competition with any individual.
The Asantehene admonished the management of the Best Point Savings and Loans not to hesitate to point out to the owners and the board the right procedure prescribed by the Bank of Ghana for the management of the business.
He noted that with such proper professional advice, the financial institution would be able to grow and spread its tentacles across the country.
Credit: graphiconline
