View source for Nana Appiah Mensah

{{Short description|Ghanaian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
'''Nana Appiah Mensah''' popularly known as '''NAM1''', is a Ghanaian business man known for the [[menzgold]] fraud. He is married to Rose Mensah, who was charged by the state as a coconspirator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonney |first=Abigail |date=2020-07-09 |title=I will choose you again and again - NAM1 eulogises wife |url=https://www.adomonline.com/i-will-choose-you-again-and-again-nam1-eulogizes-wife/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Adomonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Enchill |first=Joseph |date=2019-11-27 |title=NAM1 plays with his son in new video after Zylofon fire incident |url=https://www.adomonline.com/nam1-plays-with-his-son-in-new-video-after-zylofon-fire-incident/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Adomonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Education ==
Nana Appiah Mensah had his secondary school education at [[Adisadel College]] in the Cape Coast. He went on to further his education at [[University of Ghana|University of Ghana, Legon]]. {{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
==Career==
In 2016, He founded Zylofon Media, a multimedia company which he used to recruit notable musicians like [[Shatta Wale]],<ref>{{cite web |last=republikcitynews.online |title=Shatta Wale signs three-year contract with Zylofon Media |url=https://www.republikcitynews.online/shatta-wale-signs-three-year-contract-with-zylofon-media |website=Republik City News}}</ref> [[Stonebwoy]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Stonebwoy signs record deal with Zylofon Media – Entertainment 2017-06-15 |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Stonebwoy-signs-record-deal-with-Zylofon-Media-548852 |website=www.ghanaweb.com}}</ref> [[Becca (Ghanaian singer)|Becca]], Kumi Guitar, and [[Joyce Blessing]]. Zylofon Media also extended its reach to the film industry, signing popular actors like [[Benedicta Gafah]], and Toosweet Annan.
He used this in recruiting victims for the [[menzgold]] scam. The company was eventually shut down by the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission.
== Menzgold fraud ==
On 9 January 2019, a circuit court issued a warrant to arrest Mensah for money laundering and fraud<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3news.com/police-declares-nam1-wanted-secures-warrant-for-his-arrest/|title=Police declares NAM1 wanted; secures warrant for his arrest|date=2019-01-09|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref> causing the Criminal Investigations Department of the [[Ghana Police Service]] to trigger an [[Interpol]] red alert.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/908370/nana-appiah-mensah-charged-with-defrauding-by-false-pretenc.html|title=Nana Appiah Mensah Charged With Defrauding By False Pretence; warrant Issued For His Arrest|website=Modern Ghana}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/ghana-news-nam-1-the-darling-of-award-organisers.html|title=NAM 1: The serial award winner now a fugitive?|last=Zurek|first=Kweku|website=Graphic Online}}</ref> He was also charged because his company was unlicensed to take deposits and is said to have defrauded by false pretense.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attorney General assures justice for Menzgold victims |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/attorney-general-assures-justice-for-menzgold-victims/hn98h94 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905204321/https://www.pulse.com.gh/business/attorney-general-assures-justice-for-menzgold-victims/hn98h94 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Pulse Ghana |date=2023-09-04 |archive-date=2023-09-05 |last=Effah |first=Evans |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Menzgold boss, Nana Appiah Mensah, arrives in Ghana |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Menzgold-boss-Nana-Appiah-Mensah-arrives-in-Ghana-762424 |access-date=2019-07-11 |website=www.ghanaweb.com |language=en}}</ref> In the fall of 2023, the A-G announced that he would take over the prosecution of the Menzgold case, slapping him with 39 counts of various charges.
== Restitution of Menzgold victims ==
In September 2018, Menzgold took the [https://sec.gov.gh/ Securities and Exchange Commission, Ghana (SEC)] and the [https://www.bog.gov.gh/ Bank of Ghana (BOG)] to court after its license was revoked by the SEC. Mensah returned to Ghana in July 2019, claiming he had been acquitted in Dubai and would assist authorities in paying back Menzgold customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why NAM1 was arrested in Dubai |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-why-nam1-was-arrested-in-dubai.html |access-date=2019-03-30 |website=Graphic Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Nam 1 wins case in dubai |url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-nam-1-wins-case-in-dubai.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2019-04-18 |website=www.graphic.com.gh}}</ref> While victims remain unpaid, supporters of Nana Appiah Mensah insisted he was being unfairly treated by the government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://celebritiesbuzzgh.com/government-using-illegal-means-keep-nam1-dubai-stanley-kodia/|title=Ghana Govt is Using Illegal Means To Keep NAM1 in Dubai – Stanley Kodia|date=2019-05-30|website=www.celebritiesbuzzgh.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://africaparrot.com/ghana-government-is-using-illegal-ways-to-keep-nana-appiah-mensah-in-dubai-stanley-kodia/|title=Ghana Government is Using Illegal Ways To Keep Nana Appiah Mensah in Dubai – Stanley Kodia|last=|first=|date=|website=www.africaparrot.com}}</ref>
Menzgold insisted that they were to be paid by order of Dubai court a sum of $39 million as payment of the Gold he supplied to Royal Diamonds in three weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201907/386219.php|title=Dubai Court Orders Royal Horison To Pay $39m To Nana Appiah Mensah|last=Online|first=Peace FM|website=www.peacefmonline.com|access-date=2019-07-11}}</ref> Along with compensation for wrongful incarceration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/nam1-arrives-in-ghana-today.html|title=NAM1 arrives in Ghana today|date=11 July 2019|website=www.graphic.com.gh|first=Isaac|last=Yeboah|access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref> Nana Appiah Mensah arrived in [[Ghana]] on 11 July to be interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-XgA-QmULE]
On 18 August 2023, Nana Appiah Mensah, attempted to further raise more money from his victims through a purported Digital Verification Access Card priced at GHC650. He insisted it was a requirement to verify claims before victims will be paid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Togoh |first=Sika |date=2023-08-18 |title=Why is NAM 1 trending in Ghana? |url=https://univers.ug.edu.gh/2023/08/18/why-is-nam-1-trending-in-ghana/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Radio Univers 105.7fm |language=en-US}}</ref>  After substantial public outrage, the decision was rescinded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Menzgold saga: NAM 1 backtracks on 'GHs650-for-validation' repayment plan |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/menzgold-saga-nam-1-backtracks-on-ghs650-for-validation-repayment-plan |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=NAM 1 Drops GHC650 Latest Scam ... Adopts New Strategy |url=https://dailyguidenetwork.com/nam-1-drops-ghc650-latest-scam-adopts-new-strategy/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=DailyGuide Network |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Prosecution ==
The Attorney General, [[Godfred Yeboah Dame]], has recently lodged fresh 39 charges against Nana Appiah Mensah. These charges were officially filed on August 30, 2023. A court hearing to address these new charges is Scheduled for September 19, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NAM 1 slapped with new charges; hearing set for September 19 |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/nam-1-slapped-with-new-charges-hearing-set-for-september-19 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=www.myjoyonline.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-30 |title=AG files fresh charges in NAM 1 case, drops three year old trial |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2023/08/ag-files-fresh-charges-in-nam-1-case-drops-three-year-old-trial/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-30 |title=NAM1 Faces 39 New Charges As Menzgold Customers Struggle With Fresh Demands |url=https://dailyguidenetwork.com/nam1-faces-39-new-charges-as-menzgold-customers-struggle-with-fresh-demands/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=DailyGuide Network |language=en-US}}</ref> The Attorney General and Minister of Justice assured that resolute guarantee that justice will prevail for the victims of Menzgold Ghana Limited as the government commences criminal prosecution against both the now-defunct company and its proprietor, Nana Appiah Mensah.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amoh |first=Emmanuel Kwame |date=2023-09-04 |title=Justice will be served – AG assures Menzgold victims |url=https://3news.com/justice-will-be-served-ag-assures-menzgold-victims/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=3news.com}}</ref>
== Achievements ==
* 2 Awards for his contribution and Excellence in Business Development.- Blackstar Line Cooperative Credit Union, in conjunction with the [https://themmgf.org/ Marcus Garvey Foundation] presented two award plaques to NAM 1 for his contribution to Business Development with his list of entities.
* [https://www.ghanaflaver.com/nana-appiah-mensah-presented-with-2-awards-for-his-contributions-to-business-development-in-ghana/][https://www.adomonline.com/nam-1-wins-big-award/]
* Donated GHc 20,000 to Ghana U17 and U20 [https://zylofonmediaonline.com/zylofons-nana-appiah-mensah-donates-ghs-20000-to-ghana-u17-and-u20/]
* Special Recognition Award for Business Innovation at the Exclusive Men Of The Year Africa Awards 2017.
* 4syte Music Video Awards 2017 - Lifetime Achievement Award.
* Business Category - 50 Most Influential Young Ghanaians.
* Special Award - 2018 Radio and Television Personality (RTP) Awards before popping up second on a list of the Most Influential Entertainment Personality in Ghana for 2018 behind the chief executive officer of EiB Network, Kwabena Adisi known as [[Nathan Kwabena Adisi|‘Bola Ray]]’.
* 100 Most Influential Young Persons in Africa by the Confederation of West African Youth (CWAY) in July 2018.
* 8th Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards in April 2018 - Best Business Executive of the Year.
* November 2018 - Special Award at the Ghana Music Awards South Africa.
* 2nd Most Influential Entertainment Personality in Ghana for 2018.[https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/ghana-news-nam-1-the-darling-of-award-organisers.html]
* Acquiring lower-tier Star Madrid FC, NAM 1 through one of his companies Zylofon Cash signing a five-year deal worth $10 million to become the headline sponsors of the Ghana Premier League in May 2018.
* Special Recognition Award for Business Innovation at the Exclusive Men Of The Year Africa Awards (EMY AFRICA) in June 2017.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mensah, Nana Appiah}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Ghana alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Alumni of Adisadel College]]
[[Category:Ghanaian business executives]]