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The Attorney-General�s office yesterday tendered in the receipts issued to Gulf Coast Resources Limited (GCRL) by the chief of Banka, a town in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region, as evidence that he received US$150,000 meant for infrastructure development. This was after the Chief Executive of the GCRL, Mr Asare Quansah, had taken the witness stand to be cross-examined by counsel for the accused. Mr Quansah told the court, presided over by Justice Charles Quist, that the cheque for the amount was meant for the community of Banka but at the time, the community had no bank account, which led to their paying the money to Nana Osabarima Twiampomah III. He said the company had engaged the services of an intermediary who had had a discussion with the chiefs and elders of Banka, following which an agreement was reached for the payment of US$150,000 to the community. He added that the same amount was paid to Nana Twiampomah per Stanbic Bank cheque number 534403. Nana Twiampomah is being tried for misappropriating the amount that belongs to his community. The money was paid by GCRL, a mining company, to the people of Banka, for using their land for mining 10 years ago. Facing a charge of stealing, 52-year-old Nana Twiampomah pleaded not guilty when he first appeared before the court on September 4, 2012. He was admitted to bail in the sum GH�50,000 with one surety to be justified. Nana Twiampomah was also made to sign a bond not to travel outside the country until the matter was finally determined. According to the prosecutor, Mr Matthew Amponsah, in 2000, GCRL acquired a mining lease for a period of 10 years from the Minerals Commission to mine gold on Banka lands. The mining lease, however, expired in 2010. When the lease expired, GCRL wrote a letter to the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Natural Resources for a renewal. According to Mr Amponsah, in a letter dated June 10, 2010, the accused person and the people of Banka petitioned the ministry to protest the renewal of the lease because GCRL had failed to fulfil its corporate social responsibility for the past 10 years. Following this challenge, Mr Amponsah said GCRL entered into negotiations with the accused and the people of Banka. During the said negotiation, the company promised to pay US$150,000 to the community for development purposes. Later, the accused and his people, in a letter dated January 13, 2011, wrote to the ministry to withdraw their petition and the mining lease was renewed for another 10 years, starting from 2011. Mr Amponsah said after the mining lease was renewed, GCRL paid the agreed amount and subsequently transferred their rights to another mining company known as Banka Gold Limited. According to the prosecution, GCRL paid the amount as per Stanbic Bank Cheque number 534403 on June 14, 2011. It was received and acknowledged by the accused who issued a signed receipt on June 14, 2011. Mr Amponsah said the accused failed to inform his people after receiving the money. Despite several demands by the people over the payment, Mr Amponsah said the accused denied receiving the money and lodged a complaint with the police. In Nana Twiampomah III�s statement to the police, he said the money he received was for his personal use and not for the community and added that he used part of it to defray the cost of his legal suit against GCRL. The case has been adjourned to Monday, April 14, 2014 for cross examination to continue.