Monday, December 2, 2013

STX Faces Contempt Charge Over Debt Owed Sky Resources Travel & Tours

By Edmund Mingle
A motion for contempt has been filed against Bernard Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer of STX Engineering and Construction Limited by Sky Resources Travel and Tours Limited over the former’s failure to pay 90,000 dollars as part payment defray a debt owed the travel and tours company.

Counsel for Sky Resources filed the motion for contempt last Friday at the Fast Track High Court which gave the order for Mr. Asamoah to pay the amount.

The debt accrued from the purchase of airline tickets at the cost of 163,161 dollars by Mr. Asamoah in 2010 for a government delegation to travel to USA and Mexico as part of the botched STX Housing project.

However, the Mr. Asamoah paid 19,354 dollars, and has since failed to pay the remaining 143, 807 dollars.

The passengers on the trip who have also being sued severally by the Plaintiff, are Alban Sumana Bagbin, the then Minister of Works & Housing, Alice Adjoa Yornas, David Asuming, Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Sampson Nortey of the Ministry of Finance, Harry Yamson, STX Board Member, Joseph Sika Nartey from the Police Service, Peter Ghansah, from the Ghana Armed forces, William George Instiful, from KNUST, Sachimo Atongo,Yvonne Opoku, STX staff, Anaman Kofi, STX staff, Gabriel Ayomi Akakpo, George Padi, John Ahene Tetteh and James Akomea Frimpong

The Fast Track High Court, presided over by Justice L.L. Mensah, on October 28, 2013 ordered Mr Asamoah to pay 90,000 dollars to defray part of the debt by November 26, 2013, but the defendant failed to do so.

According to the statement of claim, the Plaintiff, Seth Osafo Danquah, Chief Executive of Sky Resources Travel and Tours Limited, between January 10 and May 16, 2011, acting on the strength of Mr. Asamoah’s representations and personnal assurance of repayment, issued airline tickets to the Mr. Asamoah and other passengers nominated by the Defendant to travel to Korea and other destinations at the total cost of 163,161 dollars.

“The defendants have repaid the sum of 19,354 dollars leaving unpaid the total sum of 143,807 dollars, and have refused to pay to date in spite of the Plaintiff’s entreaties.

“By reason of the Defendants’ default, the Plaintiff was compelled to take an overdraft facility from its bankers to meet its repayment obligations to the airlines from whom the tickets were purchased on credit, and which overdraft facility Plaintiff continues to service and has accrued a total liability of 450,000 dollars at present, and continues to run,” it said.

According to counsel for the Plaintiff, Sky Resources has virtually collapsed due to the high debt, as it has laid off 26 workers, and is currently being pursued by SSNIT for the company’s inability to pay workers’ contribution due to the poor financial standing as a result of the non -payment of the debt by STX Engineering.

The Plaintiff’s house, used as collateral for the loan facility to pay for the airline ticket, is also set to be auctioned by his bankers for non-payment of the loan

Currently, Mr. Osafo Danquah, has been hospitalized after fainting last Thursday due to the mounting pressure from his bankers.

END

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