Afenyo-Markin cautions against criminal prosecution of NAM1

Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency in the Central Region Alexander Afenyo-Markin has cautioned all and sundry that the Menzgold saga must be handled with care in order to get something for the aggrieved clients.

He has specifically cautioned against criminal prosecution of Nana Appiah Mensah, the embattled Chief Executive Officer of gold trading company Menzgold Ghana Limited and its directors.

According to him, it will not be in the interest of customers to pursue the matter as a criminal matter because they may lose their monies eventually.

Speaking TV3’s New Day on Monday, January 14, the legal practitioner explained that even in advanced jurisdictions, criminal prosecution in matters as Menzgold’s is not an immediate option.

“[With] criminal prosecution, let’s tread cautiously. Why? Even in advanced jurisdictions, the US, for instance, the FBI will prefer to cut a deal to save a situation than to rush to court and begin a criminal prosecution,” he said.

‘Aluta, aluta’

Mr. Afenyo-Markin is of the view that the attitude of the company and its customers, as well as the politicization of the issue by the public, is what has escalated the matter to what it is today.

He thinks all that is not necessary.

“For customers or clients of Menzgold who are going the ‘aluta aluta’ approach, if you ask my view I will tell them it’s needless. For those who think they can politicize it, I tell them it is much ado about nothing,” he advised.

The Effutu MP reiterates that criminal prosecution is not the best option in times like this.

“The customer needs his money, true. If you prosecute the man, if you look at the Financial Task-force Regulation, there is a strong recommendation for a civil forfeiture procedure in matters as complicated as we find it now. Again, you wouldn’t get what you want.”

For him, the Menzgold matter started off as a very simple matter but has not been well handled.

“We’re being overly emotional and irrational and to some extent acting lawlessly and creating the impression as though systems don’t work in this country,” he emphasized.