Allegation of gambling in Ghana Mission in Japan under investigation By: Daily Graphic / Ghana | Friday, 21 March 2014 07:16 | Category: General News The government has initiated investigations into allegations that its mission in Japan was involved in an illegal gambling business which led to the arrest of 10 Japanese. A statement issued in Accra Thursday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the government, with assistance from its staff in Japan, was conducting its own investigations. According to media reports in Japan, the Tokyo police arrested 10 people suspected of running an illegal gambling business in a room leased in the name of a former Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr William George Mensah Brandful. Nine of the 10 had admitted the charges against them, but the 10th person, Hiroyuki Yamanoi, 35, had denied them, police sources said. The police are also said to have seized more than $100,000 in cash. “Some of the suspects were said to have revealed that they thought they would not be arrested because the casino belonged to the Ghana Embassy,” the sources said. The Tokyo police are also reported to have asked the present Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Edmond Kofi Agbentse Deh, to accept questioning over the incident. “The lease contract for the room was signed in September 2012, upon the presentation of the previous ambassadors identification, and was handed over to the current envoy,” the sources said. However, Ghanas Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, said initial investigations had revealed the immediate-past Ambassador, Dr William George Mensah Brandful, signed documents regarding rental of the premise used for the illegal activity. “Apparently, the documents indicating the rental of the premises were signed by his immediate predecessor in 2012. We will keep the public informed of any further developments,” it said. #Fact: Ambassador William George Mensah Brandful is a career diplomat. Prior to being sent to Japan in 2011 by pur beloved President J. E. A. Mills of blessed memory, Ambassador Dr. William George Mensah BRANDFUL was appointed by the then President Kufuor as the High Commissioner of Ghana to Zambia. Ambassador Bramdfuls previous diplomatic assignments were at the Embassy of Ghana in Bamako, Mali as Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Ambassador, with oversight responsibility for the Chancery and directly in charge of matters covering Political and Economic relations (from October, 2002 to October, 2006); Embassy of Ghana in Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany (from 1996 – 2000); and Embassy of Ghana, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin (1988 to 1992). Between the date of joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in May, 1977, and the specified diplomatic assignments, Ambassador Brandful worked at various positions at the Ministry in Ghana, including Chief of Protocol (October, 2000 to September, 2002); and Supervising Director, Policy Planning, Research and Monitoring (November, 2006 to October, 2008).
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 12:18:16 +0000
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