Breman Asikuma (Central Region) -- Mr John Kweku Addai, District Chief Executive for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, has denied allegations of embezzling the District Assembly's common fund, levelled against him by the MP for the area, Mr P C Appiah-Ofori.
He explained that there are guidelines for the disbursement of the fund, saying a committee chaired by the Presiding Member was established to disburse it.
Mr Addai, who was reacting to an article in an Accra Weekly, alleging that he misappropriated the Assembly's common fund from 1998-2000, said he inherited a debt of 600 million cedis when he assumed office in 1998.
An embargo had also been placed on all contracts, which was lifted after the debt had been redeemed.
The DCE said the two houses the MP claims he used the Assembly's funds to build were put up before 1982 when he was working in Nigeria while the one at Odoben, was started in that year.
Speaking to the GNA he said a relative he entrusted with the construction, squandered money for the project, which had to be suspended until his return from Nigeria where he was the personal assistant to the Governor of the Cross River State.
The DCE said his building at East Legon, Accra was completed in 1982, adding that it was supervised by Mr Clement Zorlo, a Deputy Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in Accra.
After paying the 600 million-cedi debt, three contracts estimated at 435million cedis were awarded, which are at the completion stages, he said.
An Educational Fund for needy but brilliant students in the district, which 25 have benefited was also instituted. The beneficiaries are in Senior Secondary Schools, Teacher Training and tertiary institutions.
Mr Addai said the assembly also assisted in financing community-initiated projects such as roads, rehabilitation of schools, construction of hand-dug wells, culverts and electrification projects.
He said the Breman Brakwa Rural Bank on behalf of the Assembly administered the Poverty Alleviation Fund with beneficiaries providing guarantors and denied that the money was misused.
The DCE assured the MP that the Public Works Department has taken inventory of all items both his office and bungalow.
Mr Addai denied that he promised NPP activists five million cedis and paid 100,000 cedis up-front to defect and campaign against the party before the December election.
He invited the MP approach him if he is doubt to ensure the efficient running of the district.
