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The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), has been rocked by a petition filed against its Executive Secretary, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, and Acting President, Mr. Benjamin Otto. The petition, signed by two senior officers of the association, alleges fraudulent activities involving an unauthorized withdrawal of GHS 500,000 from CLOGSAG’s main account.
The petitioners, Mr. Ernest Tagoe, Acting National Treasurer, and Mr. Emmanuel Acquah, Acting 1st National Trustee, are calling on the National Executive Council (NEC) to investigate and take disciplinary action against the two accused officials.
Details of the Allegations
According to the petition, the unauthorized withdrawal was made on April 29, 2024, using cheque number CIHQ 001517. The withdrawal was allegedly approved by Mr. Bampoe Addo and Mr. Otto without the necessary authorization from the mandatory signatories to the account. The petitioners claim this action contravenes Article 21.4(c) of the association’s constitution, which mandates that all withdrawals must be signed off by four key officials: the President, National Treasurer, 1st National Trustee, and the Executive Secretary.
The petition also alleges that the two accused officers forged a resolution letter, purportedly issued by the NEC, to change the bank’s signing mandate from four signatories to any two. The forged document reportedly claimed that NEC had resolved to implement the changes at a meeting held on March 5, 2024.
However, the petitioners refute this claim, stating categorically that no such NEC meeting was convened, and NEC lacks the constitutional power to alter the mandate on the main account without a formal constitutional amendment.
Grounds for the Petition
The petitioners accuse Mr. Bampoe Addo and Mr. Otto of the following:
1. Dishonest Appropriation: Misappropriating GHS 500,000 belonging to the association, amounting to theft.
2. Collusion: Acting together with a common purpose to unlawfully withdraw the funds.
3. Forgery: Altering documents to facilitate the unauthorized withdrawal.
4. Gross Misconduct: Engaging in criminal behavior that tarnishes the image of CLOGSAG.
Call for Action
The petitioners have urged the NEC to act swiftly to address the alleged misconduct. They believe the NEC has the authority to discipline members who breach the association’s regulations.
“We hope the NEC will see reason in our petition and take appropriate action to uphold the integrity of the association,” the petitioners stated.
Evidence Submitted
To support their claims, the petitioners attached the following documents:
1. A copy of the forged resolution letter presented to Access Bank.
2. Official complaints lodged with Access Bank and the accused officers.
Next Steps
The NEC is expected to deliberate on the matter and decide on the appropriate course of action. This case has generated widespread attention, as many members of CLOGSAG are concerned about the implications of the alleged fraud on the association’s financial stability and credibility.
CLOGSAG’s Response
Efforts to reach Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo and Mr. Benjamin Otto for their response have so far been unsuccessful. Members of the association and the general public eagerly await NEC’s intervention in resolving the issue.
This development has sparked conversations about governance and accountability within professional associations in Ghana. Many observers are calling for stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
