Concerned Assembly members protest against alleged diversion of items by MCE
The Concern Assembly Members of the Agona West Municipality Assembly have protested against the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Evans Coleman for the alleged diversion of items meant for the youth of the Area.
The items donated by the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Master card Foundation to be given to the youth who opted for apprenticeship training, included sewing machines and hairdryers.
Addressing a press conference at Swedru to register their displeasure, Mr Jallal Adam, spokesperson, accused the MCE of diverting the equipment to New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Agona West Parliamentary Candidate, Mr Chris Arthur.
According to the concerned members, they considered the action of the MCE as an affront to local government rules and regulations, adding that items were to be distributed in a fair and transparent manner to the citizenry.
Mr Adam said the move by the MCE, was a calculated attempt to buy votes from the constituents after years of neglect and failed, unfulfilled promises.
Mr Adam further alleged that the MCE had given out the DRIP machines recently inaugurated in the District to the NPP PC alone to use without the consent of the Assembly Members and had refused to roll out a timetable to send them to their various electoral areas to fix their bad roads.
He said the concerned members had also observed that street bulbs purchased with the resources of the Assembly were given to the NPP PC to be sent to strong holds of the ruling party.
He described it as “unacceptable” because they were public resources meant for all citizens and it must not serve the selfish interest of one political party.
The spokesperson therefore suggested that the MCE published an itinerary for the DRIP machines for all Assembly members to ensure equitable distribution of developmental programmes.
The spokesperson said all they were demanding was the fair distribution and fixing of the streetlights in all electoral areas of the members.
Mr Adams called for transparent processes of selection and distribution of sewing machines and dryers under the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Mastercard Foundation programme to reduce political tension.
He cautioned that failure to do so by the MCE would definitely incur the displeasure of the concerned Assembly members and would not be pleasant in the Municipality.
When Mr Coleman, the MCE was contacted about the alleged diversion of sewing machines, dryers, DRIP machines and streetslights, he denied all the allegations against him.
Source: GNA