Ghanaian postal officer charged with remittance theft

A female Assistant Postal Officer of the Ghana Post at Suame in charge of the Western Union Money Transfer Service, accused of embezzling GH¢278,555 belonging to the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), has appeared before a circuit court in Kumasi, charged with stealing.

Louisa Osei-Agyemang is said to have connived with some customers of the Western Union Money Transfer service of the ADB to inflate remittances and pocketed the difference.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge and the court, presided over by Mr. R.M. Kogyapwah, admitted her to a GH¢270,000 bail with two sureties to be justified. She is to reappear on September 22.

Corporal Godwin Ahianyo of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Unit said Ms Osei-Agyemang’s activities came to light during an audit when it was detected that the total money advanced to the office for clearance did not tally with the amount of money expected to be released to customers.

A further examination of the books revealed that between January 2009 and early August this year, some of the customers were paid remittances far in excess of what they were due.

Cpl Ahianyo said a report was made to the Regional Accountant of the Ghana Post and Ms Osei-Agyemang was invited to the regional office to explain the unbalanced amount. The regional accountant referred the case to the police.

Mr Ahianyo said Ms osei-Agyeman was initially granted a police enquiry bail, but after preliminary investigations, she was re-arrested last Wednesday and appeared before the court.