The Board Chairman of ADB Bank, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, has stepped down immediately following allegations of extortion made against him by a bank customer.
Sources indicate that his resignation came after an emergency board meeting on October 10, 2024, where the Board Chairman chose to resign in the best interest of the bank.
The case dates back to a petition filed by Collins Darkwa, a customer of ADB Bank, to the Office of the President. In the petition, Darkwa accused the Board Chairman, who also holds the title Kwahumanhene, of extorting large sums of money in exchange for approving a 12 million Ghana cedis loan.
Darkwa’s petition outlined how the Board Chairman allegedly demanded an upfront payment of 50,000.00 cedis and additional funds before approving the loan. He further appealed to the presidency to help recover a total of 2,408,000.00 cedis from the Board Chairman.
“Under pressure from my suppliers to procure logistics for the cashew to be supplied, I had no other choice than to agree to the conditions,” Darkwa said.
Despite complying with the demands, Darkwa claims that Daasebre continued pressuring him for more money, threatening to obstruct his business if he did not cooperate.
The resignation has provided a sense of relief within the bank, which many view as one of the country’s top-performing local banks. The swift decision has also reassured both customers and the general public of the bank’s dedication to maintaining good corporate governance and ethical practices.
ADB Bank, known for its strong social responsibility, has twice won the Ghana Banking Award for Most Socially Responsible Bank and has also been recognized as Best Corporate Socially Responsible Bank at the Ghana Business Awards, further solidifying its position in the market.