By Michael Kofi Kenetey
The Bank of Ghana has directed Stanbic Bank to close all accounts linked to the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana, NaSTAG following an allegation of identity theft, procedural lapses and unauthorized account opening at the Achimota Branch of the Bank.
The directive is in relation to three accounts comprising two-cedi accounts and a dollar account and a regulatory review of a complaint brought before the Bank of Ghana about an alleged criminal activity at the Stanbic Bank Achimota Branch.
The immediate past president of the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana, NaSTAG, and Founder of Legacy Crop Improvement Centre, LCIC Limited, Dr. Amos Rutherford Azinu, addressing the media at Otareso in the Akwapim North District of the Eastern Region, revealed that he petitioned the Bank of Ghana on October 18, 2024, to investigate an alleged fraudulent activity of the Stanbic Bank Achimota Branch.
Dr. Azinu noted that in response to his petition on August 7, 2025, signed by the Secretary of the Bank of Ghana, the BOG noted that upon their investigation, a supervisory action had been taken against the Stanbic Bank.
The response added that Stanbic Bank has been directed to close the additional account opened for the operation of the AGRA account.
The directive followed months of complaints and forensic investigations initiated by Dr. Azinu, who consistently denied authorizing the opening of the account of the Association, describing the incident as a case of identity theft and procedural compromise.
He reiterated that in his petition to the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, he alleged that his Ghana Card, passport photograph, and his forged signature were used to open the account at the Stanbic Bank Achimota Branch without his consent.
Dr. Azinu is therefore demanding the arrest of the former accountant of NaSTAG, Leonard Nii Lante Mills, and staff of Stanbic Bank Achimota Branch, including Jude Gbeddie, Lorraine Nyampong, and John Jaisey, who, in his opinion, are the perpetrators of the fraudulent act.
He reiterated that the resolution from the bank listed him as a signatory alongside one Elorm Goh and Andrew Nii Adjetey, however, he maintained that he never signed any document from Stanbic Bank, stressing he never completed any account opening and signatory forms from Stanbic Bank.
He stressed that the forensic report revealed that Mr. Mills submitted a resolution and accompanying documents, including photocopies of Dr. Azinu’s Ghana card, and Mr. Gbeddie, a Universal Banker at the Achimota branch, stamped the signature card without verifying the person.
