Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the Board Chairman of ADB Bank, has resigned with immediate effect following serious allegations of extortion leveled against him by a customer of the bank. His resignation was announced after an emergency board meeting held on Thursday, during which he decided to step down to protect the interests of the bank.
The allegations came to light when Collins Darkwa, a businessman and customer of ADB Bank, petitioned the Office of the President, accusing Daasebre of extorting money from him in exchange for approving a GH₵12 million loan. According to Mr. Darkwa, the Board Chairman, who also serves as the Kwahumanhene (a traditional chief), demanded an upfront payment of GH₵50,000.00 and later solicited additional funds, amounting to a total of GH₵2,408,000.00, in order to facilitate the loan’s approval.
In his petition, Mr. Darkwa claimed that, under pressure from his suppliers to secure logistics for his cashew business, he felt compelled to agree to the Chairman’s demands. He further alleged that Daasebre continued to press him for more money even after the initial payments were made, threatening to use his position to frustrate Mr. Darkwa’s business if he did not comply.
Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II’s decision to resign has been welcomed by the bank, with officials describing it as a necessary step to reassure customers and the public of ADB’s commitment to good corporate governance and ethical practices. The swift move is seen as a positive development for the bank, which is regarded as one of Ghana’s leading local financial institutions.
ADB Bank, which has won several awards for its corporate social responsibility, including the Ghana Banking Award’s Most Socially Responsible Bank and Best Corporate Social Responsibility Bank at the Ghana Business Awards, has reiterated its dedication to upholding high standards of accountability and transparency in the banking industry.
With the resignation of its Board Chairman, ADB Bank is seeking to distance itself from the controversy and maintain the trust and confidence of its customers as it continues to distinguish itself in the competitive banking sector.