AMAKOM PROPERTIES OF MENZGOLD UP FOR SALE

There was a near clash between some customers of MENZGOLD, a struggling gold dealership company, and the Police in Kumasi this morning following the insistence of the aggrieved investors to go ahead with their street protest, despite a caution by the Ashanti Regional Police Command. 

By 6 am today, Tue Jan. 8 the customers had mobilized and converged around the Amakom offices of MENZGOLD, clad in red arm bands and wielding placards with various inscriptions communicating their concerns and frustrations, and also protesting the government’s reaction to their plight so far. 

The protestors first burnt lorry tyres on a portion of the main Asafo-Tek Junction road blocking the road in the process, to frustrate traffic movement. It took a swift intervention by the Police and the Ghana National Fire Service to clear the blocked road to allow for free flow of vehicular traffic movement on that stretch of the road. 

After being confined at the vicinity of the MENZGOLD premises for nearly an hour, the customers began marching towards the Manhyia Palace, ostensibly to present a petition to the Asantehene, to also intervene in resolving the problem.

 However, the Police quickly called for a reinforcement and chased the protesters in a convoy of vehicles and succeeded in blocking their movement at the Kumasi Technical Institute junction, where the protesters were forced to return to their homes. But this was possible after threat by the Police to get all of demonstrators arrested for being recalcitrant and refusing to respond positively to dialogue for reason and peace to prevail. 

Even before the demonstrators could give in, about three of their members including a woman identified by the Police to be instigating the demonstration, were arrested and taken away in one of Police Tundra pick-ups to the Regional Police Headquarters.  Some of the protesters told Ashanti Today that they had duly notified the Police of their intentions to undertake their demonstration today in line with the Public Order law. 

They said, they are not happy with the reaction of government officials about the situation of the MENZGOLD and the lock up of their huge investment which is creating serious socio-economic problems for them and their families. 

The Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Regional Police Command, ASP Godwin Ahianyo, also told the Ashanti Today that the protestors did not meet the requirement provided by the Public Order Act and were therefore embarking on an illegal protest. 

According to the Police PRO, the people used social media to mobilize and that the police were not ready to entertain people who flout the laws after dialogue for an amicable settlement of their request had failed. 

Meanwhile, Ashanti Today can authoritatively report that a Kumasi Circuit Court has attached the Amakom offices and properties of MENZGOLD and indicated that the property would be auctioned this month.

The court Order posted on the front wall of the Amakom office of the company, was at the instance of one Henry Darko on 11th December 2018 with a Suit No. A2/47/2019 under the hand of the Deputy Sheriff.

All immovable properties in that office have been attached and scheduled for Auction early this month.