10 ex-DCEs to face trial

TEN District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the NDC regime who allegedly caused serious financial loss to the state during their tenure of office are to be prosecuted.

A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Capt. (rtd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, announced this at the Fourth Speech and Prize-giving Day celebrations of the Berekum Secondary School which coincided with the inauguration of the school’s military cadet corps at Berekum at the weekend.

He mentioned five of them as Nana Kwadwo Boateng, formerly responsible for Dormaa, the former Jaman DCE, Matthew Gyasi; Jerry Acquaye Thompson, the Ga DCE. Alhaji Mahama Shamrock, formerly responsible for Zabzugu/Tatale and the late Bessa Simons, the former Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese DCE. Capt Effah-Dartey did not name the remaining five DCEs but said the 10 DCEs who embezzled about ?3 billion during their stewardship, formed the first batch of such former government officials to be prosecuted.

Capt Effah-Dartey, who is also the MP for Berekum further stated that apart from his ministry submitting a list of the affected DCEs to the Attorney-General for prosecution, civil suits will also be instituted against them to retrieve the money they misappropriated.He stressed that the NPP Government would not sit down unconcerned for a few disgruntled people in the society to exploit the nation at the expense of the masses.

He stressed that only discipline can eradicate corruption and other criminal activities from the Ghanaian society. He, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to lead responsible lives in order to build a better nation since nobody can reconstruct the country for them.Capt Effah-Dartey advised teachers who are role models to strive to be morally upright so as to instil discipline in the children they teach, since no school can attain high academic laurels in the midst of chaos and violence.

He suggested that all senior secondary schools (SSS) in the country should establish cadet corps for military discipline to be instilled in the students.Capt Effah-Dartey praised the science students of the school for manufacturing paint from clay and urged them to exhibit it during the first ever Berekum Trade Fair scheduled for November, this year.