2 arrested for stealing Otumfuo’s Club for $1.3 million

Two (2) Persons have been arrested by Zongo Police in Kumasi for allegedly stealing and registering Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s Club known as Kumasi Club in their name at the Registrar Generals Department in Kumasi in order to perpetrate fraud.

One other person who is said to have played a key role in the scandal is said to be on the run and has been subsequently been declared wanted by the police according to sources available to MyNewsGh.com.

The suspects, Norman Owusu Barnie, a member of the club and one Charles Asabere an administrative staff of the club were arrested on October 21, 2019 after registering the club in their names in order to own it and allegedly used it as a mortgage to take an amount of $1.3 million from some investors.

The third accomplice has been identified as Mr Kwame Brenyah currently being sort after by the police.

MyNewsGh.com checks revealed, the cover of the suspects was blown up by two practicing lawyers who saw them engage in a criminal act and reported the case to Manhyia Palace the seat of King of Asante after which the police were notified.

Health Practitioner Research scientist who is a Chairman of the Kumasi Club, Richard Owusu Nyarko told MyNewsGh.com the authorities of the club have not been permitted by Manhyia Palace to register it

“I’m not aware that the club has been registered by some individuals. If it is true then they are fraudsters and the law should deal with them”, he stated.

History

The club is Asantehene Otumfuo’s property and without his permission, nobody can register the club in his/her name, not even the executives. The Kumasi Club was formerly known as the European Club The Asantehene is the life patron of the Club which was established in 1927 and boasts of highly trained professionals residing in the Ashanti Region.

The club dates back to the colonial era, when it was called the Kumasi European Club and only Europeans were allowed to use the facility. The original premises of the Kumasi European Club were in the red Fort, which was under British control at the time. In the early part of the century a fire broke out in the fort and the club’s premises were destroyed.

Funds collected from insurance were used to acquire and develop the site on which the club stands today.

After independence, the rules of the Club were in 1962 changed to allow membership to people of all nationalities.