Building of now defunct Menzgold
The aggrieved Menzgold customers have urged President John Dramani Mahama to include them in his first budget statement.
The group’s convener, Fred Forson, estimates they will require approximately GH¢200 million to pay the over 11,000 members whose funds were locked up with the defunct company.
He lamented that all efforts to retrieve their frozen funds had failed, and they hoped that the new government would address the issue.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline, he expressed concern about the difficulties the members have faced due to the company’s problems over the years.
He served notice that they will remain resilient and not allow the matter to go unresolved. He said the customers need their locked-up funds released because a lot of them have suffered, with 235 dead, out of which three or four persons committed suicide.
Fred Forson emphasized that the Menzgold saga has rendered people homeless, destroyed marriages, left others with strokes and various degrees of medical issues, and caused mental health-related problems.
“President John Dramani Mahama’s administration is new, and we understand that people have expectations, as do we. Our request is that the President allocate GH¢200 million in his maiden budget.
“We understand how tight and competitive it is, especially when competing interest groups want their concerns addressed in the budget. Our problem is also dire and requires serious action. We are asking him to set aside at least GH¢ 200 million.
“He had been the best ally when he was in opposition, so now that he is President, we are waiting patiently for him to invite us over. We are willing to accept it even if he can only do half of the GH¢200 million.”
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