Wednesday 11 October 2017

Manhyia Palace Officials Need Not Comment On Evidence Adduced Before UK Employment Tribunal

One hopes that Ghanaian media reports alleging that officials at the Manyhia Palace in Kumasi have rubbished news stories carried by two UK newspapers that mention the Asantehene - the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph - are indeed  "inaccurate".

The details of the story in both UK newspapers were obtained from the sitting of an employment tribunal hearing a complaint of unfair dismissal, brought before it by a dismissed executive of Ghana International Bank in London, a Mr. Mark Arthur.

Yes, it is   "inaccurate" to refer to the Asantehene as "King of Ghana." However, silence, it is said, is golden. The wisest course of action for the unnamed Manyhia Palace officials allegedly rubbishing the stories mentioning the Asantehene in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, would be to remain tight-lipped for the moment.

There are two things they must bear in mind: To begin with, the  UK isn't Ghana. Even those closely related  to the Queen will doubtless face prosecution if charged  with  money laundering. No question. Secondly, unlike Ghana the police there do not "manage" evidence obtained by investigators. There is no point therefore in  trying to discredit either the Daily Mail or the Daily Telegraph.

After all, as far as one can tell, the Asantehene himself has neither been charged nor is he currently under investigation by police in the UK. For that reason there is absolutely no need for officials at the Manyhia Palace to feel obliged to comment on the matter.

All they can do for the moment is to pray for the good health and safety of the Asantehene - as they always do one presumes. And even if the worst should happen they would be wise to still remain tight-lipped.

For at that stage silence really would be golden - as the matter would then actually be in God's hands so to speak. In any case we wish the Asantehene well. He should enjoy his holidays in the UK to the max.

For the benefit of our readers, we have culled and posted below the Daily Mail's news report highlighting the case put up by the dismissed Ghana International Bank  executive, Mr. Mark  Arthur, at the hearing of the employment tribunal before which he has brought a case of unfair dismissal against the Ghana International Bank in London.

Hmm, Oman Ghana - eyeasem o: asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa.

Please read on:

"Wednesday, Oct 11th 2017 5-Day Forecast

King of Ghana handed £350,000 in cash to British bank official who was then sacked from his job for 'money laundering'

Ghana International Bank executive Mark Arthur was fired after laundering fears

The banking bigwig deposited £350,000 in cash handed by the king of Ghana

Depositing the funds triggered a money laundering alert in the City of London

The banker was investigated by National Crime Agency and fired from his job


By Rod Ardehali For Mailonline


Published: 02:05 BST, 11 October 2017 | Updated: 07:38 BST, 11 October 2017

A top banking executive was fired from his job and investigated by the National Crime Agency after he deposited £350,000 in cash handed to him by the King of Ghana.

Ghana International Bank bigwig Mark Arthur was summoned to Osei Tutu II's multi-million-pound home in Henley-on-Thames and given £200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 and told to deposit the funds.

Despite the notes having consecutive serial numbers, Mr Arthur said he felt it inappropriate to question the king and made his way to the bank, via his own home, in an Uber cab.

A top banking executive was fired from his job and investigated by the National Crime Agency after he deposited £350,000 in cash handed to him by the King of Ghana

A top banking executive was fired from his job and investigated by the National Crime Agency after he deposited £350,000 in cash handed to him by the King of Ghana

When Mr Arthur deposited the cash at the Ghana International Bank a money laundering alert was triggered in the City of London, costing him his job.

Mr Arthur drove to his home in New Barnet, Hertfordshire, and then took an Uber taxi to the bank's City offices to deposit into the king's account, he told a tribunal.

The banker was told by Osei Tutu II that the cash had been withdrawn from banks in Ghana and brought over to Britain, he said in a witness statement.

The Ghanaian ruler also instructed Mr Arthur to transfer $200,000 to an account at Standard bank in Jersey.

Following the transfers, he was suspended and sacked, after an investigation by outside accountants Grant Thornton.

Ghana International Bank bigwig Mark Arthur was summoned to Osei Tutu II's multi-million-pound home in Henley-on-Thames and given £200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 and told to deposit the funds (pictured with Prince Charles, 2001)

Ghana International Bank bigwig Mark Arthur was summoned to Osei Tutu II's multi-million-pound home in Henley-on-Thames and given £200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 and told to deposit the funds (pictured with Prince Charles, 2001)

Mr Arthur is claiming wrongful and unfair dismissal as well as failure to protect a whistleblower.

The sacked banker failed to adhere to anti-money laundering rules and violated security policies, according to the Ghanaian bank.

Mr Arthur, an executive director of the bank, alleged the deposit and transfer were approved by Ghana International Bank's chief executive, Joseph Mensah.

Mr Mensah disagreed suggesting he 'didn't even have the authority to sanction such a huge amount'.

The Ghanaian king and ruler of the Asante is thought to be Africa's 10th richest monarch, owning lucrative goldmine and cocoa plantations.

According to his witness statement, the banker said he was unable to follow anti-money laundering rules because of the king's status (with Prince Charles in Glasgow, 2001)

According to his witness statement, the banker said he was unable to follow anti-money laundering rules because of the king's status (with Prince Charles in Glasgow, 2001)

According to his witness statement, the banker said he was unable to follow anti-money laundering rules because of the king's status.

He said: 'Without a policy to follow and did without wishing to offend a sovereign of my country, I found myself in a very difficult situation and one I had never been in before.

'I could not carry out the necessary due diligence by talking to His Majesty so decided it would be best to verify the deposits at the bank and to speak directly to Mr Mensah rather than disrespect His Majesty in a face-to-face meeting.'

The day after the bank accepted the cash and made the transfer to Jersey, it reported the transactions to the National Crime Agency as suspicious.

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irishfancy, Clonmel, about 3 hours ago

Um, has anybody else noticed the amount he was given to deposit. £200,000 and £200,000 do not make £350,000. it makes £400,000. So where is the other £50,000? I think this man wan was just trying to do his job to the best of his ability. Maybe he shouldn't have trusted the king (I don't care where of) but wouldn't any of you? Would you question a king (again I don't care where of). Go after Tuto II and leave thiis man alone, he was just a pawn.

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John1Charles, golden triangle, United Kingdom, about 2 hours ago

£200,000 + $200,000 = approx £350, 000.

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Tel de Truth, No where any more, United Kingdom, about 5 hours ago

A banker caught money laundering and banks caught trying to trick people. NAH! Cant be true

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Prince Nabonky, Accra, Ghana, about 7 hours ago

He is the King of the Ashanti kingdom with the capital being Kumasi. Not the whole Ghana MR/MRS. Daily mail

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Mr Sin Nick, The Real World, United Kingdom, about 7 hours ago

Royals ???... smell of "dirty money "" always

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pegomike, alicante, Spain, about 7 hours ago

Forget about the money laundering for a moment, he has a multi million pound home in the UK, and charities beg us to support the starving, in that country, it's the charities that are getting rich as well, only a small percentage gets through, so, make the 'King' pay all his millions to famine relief.

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Tel de Truth, No where any more, United Kingdom, about 5 hours ago

Same as the UK then

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justasimplegal, london, United Kingdom, about 7 hours ago

He's not the king of ghana, just king of a powerful region! In fact he has no powers...

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Xhoneycaramelgirlx, London, United Kingdom, about 7 hours ago

This is foolishness!!! Don't be fooled by the media!! Ghana is a country that is rich in Gold, oil and other resources. Many Africans living here have very big palatial houses back home! They only show you kwashiorkor and suffering on your T.V. Don¿t be fooled this is a lie, Ghana is a burgeoning economy that is growing and developing. This is not fraud! And England has no business in Ghanaian affairs. We still have not found any solution to Brexit, we are a laughing stock within the entire European community. They fooled us once, through the use of propaganda that we are better off outside of the EU. Now they are regretting and grinding their teeth in Whitehall. Inflation is rising, the economy is weak and we have the time to poke our nose where it doesn¿t belong. I want to see this country is doing and what progress they are making towards getting a trade deal! Don¿t be fooled Ghana is rising, there are beautiful places in Ghana more stunning than in the UK. Wake up!!!

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RichardLittle, Leeds, United Kingdom, about 7 hours ago

True. Fair trade exploits it all.

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Tel de Truth, No where any more, United Kingdom, about 5 hours ago

We have a solution to Brexit we just want your remoaner friend to get out the way and we can implement. Out by Christmas. No more cheques, no one comes into our country unless we want them, no more benefits to feed the rest of the world while our people get nothing and are treated like aliens in their own country. All infrastructure will be owned and run by British companies just the same as in France and Germany. We are just waitibg for M a Y to get off the pot.

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Martin, Malaga, about 8 hours ago

Sacked he deserves gaol! But there is justice for the few and justice for the many. Why isn't tuttu being stripped of his UK assets.

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RichardLittle, Leeds, United Kingdom, about 7 hours ago

Vice Versa. Double standards again!

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OhmyG, macclesfield, United Kingdom, about 8 hours ago

He's not the King of Ghana. He's the King of the Ashanti Tribe.

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RichardLittle, Leeds, United Kingdom, about 8 hours ago

Its money laundering. Why was it deposited in cash instead of bank transfers. He knew the rules and I would sack him too.

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End of culled piece from the online  version of the Daily Mail.

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