Kofi Amoabeng, founder of the defunct UT Bank, has shared a surprising account of how he was summoned by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) under the previous Akufo-Addo administration — allegedly because of the way he danced at a royal event.
According to the businessman, he attended the anniversary celebration of the Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Panin, at Kyebi in the Eastern Region as an officially invited guest. While at the event, and after taking some drinks, he took to the dance floor and danced to his heart’s content.
Among the guests were then-President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and several other dignitaries.
Amoabeng explained that although he is not a skilled dancer, he loves to dance whenever he hears music he enjoys, regardless of how it looks. Unknown to him, his dance moves had reportedly offended some people at the gathering.
He recounted that upon returning to Accra from Kyebi, he was informed that several state institutions were looking for him. Narrating the incident in Twi, he said:
“It is not as though I know how to dance. I just love dancing, and I really don’t care if it makes sense or not. I remember I was invited to the Okyenhene’s Palace for his 15th or 20th anniversary. I had my table, drank champagne, and the live band was playing good music from Pat Thomas, so I stood up and danced with this lady, Bukarisson. That was in December. Around the 5th of January, I was told EOCO was looking for me, the special investigation team was looking for me, the Financial Intelligence Centre was looking for me, and the Police CID was looking for me. I asked what was going on, and I was told my dance at Kyebi was of a certain kind. When I was dancing, the President, the Vice President and all the ministers were present and they could not dance, but I danced. Whether you like it or not, that is what I went through, but I don’t care. I was discussing it with a friend, and he said it is possible I was twerking in front of the President without even noticing it.”
Notably, this incident came after UT Bank collapsed during the banking sector clean-up exercise, which reportedly cost the government over GH¢20 billion, although the affected banks were said to have needed only about GH¢9 billion.
Although the video of Amoabeng narrating the incident was released some time ago, it has resurfaced online following the recent arrest of a Techiman-based senior nurse allegedly linked to UK-based Ghanaian TikToker “Ghana Jollof,” who is currently under investigation.
The resurfaced story has sparked conversations on social media, with many users questioning why the New Patriotic Party (NPP) now appears to behave as though arresting or questioning citizens over suspected offences is unprecedented — given that similar incidents allegedly occurred under their own administration.
By Gifty Boateng