Catherine Afeku exposed

*As MCE Responds to Missing Boat Lies

The Municipal

Chief Executive (MCE) of Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Rev James Ackah

Cobbinah has responded to the missing boat allegation which indicts him of

allegedly masterminding in its disappearance as alluded by the Member of

Parliament for the area Madam Catherine Afeku with some sections of the media.

According

to him, the allegations made by Madam Afeku were false and baseless just to win

sympathy votes from the electorates who have lost confidence in her as a result

of her ‘sugar coated’ lies.

He

mentioned that, his office was aware of the disappearance of the boat stressing

that measures is in place to salvage the situation by procuring a new one to

enable users to access the Ankobra River to the Northern part of the

Municipality without any inconveniences.

The

MCE made this observation in a Press statement to react to a recent allegation meted

against him by the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area Madam Catherine

Ablema Afeku for allegedly selling the ‘Paa Grant’ Boat which was acquired by

the Assembly to the detriment of the masses who have now become handicapped due

to its disappearance.

Rev

Cobbinah intimated that the MP has totally lost touch with the good people of

Nzema East and has resorted to peddling of falsehood to cover her politically

ineptitude.

He

also added that the missing boat which was bought in 2005 by the erstwhile regime

aimed at augmenting the transportation needs of the people along the Ankobra, Dominase,

Ajomoro Eshiam, Kukuaville and other villages came as a shock to the Assembly

when the manufacturer Dura-Tech Limited with the intention of lifting it for

refurbishment discovered its absence and informed the Assembly.

“On

Saturday, 11th February 2012 when the Manager of Dura-Tech Ltd.

mobilized to haul the boat to the factory to commence work, it was reported

that the boat could not be found at its moored location. A team of officers from

the Assembly led by

the Municipal Planning Officer was dispatched to the site and it was confirmed

that the boat was missing”. Rev Cobbinah stressed.

Rev

Cobbinah further said that he knew very well of the strategies the Hon MP for

Evalue Gwira is adopting for her 2012 campaign and that the issue relating to

the boat is one.

He

called on all to consider the allegations by Madam Afeku as baseless and must

not be treated as a serious politician, since she has failed the people of the

area and was resorting to lies to gain favour.

Here are some

excerpts of his Press Statement issued last on Monday 18th June,

2012

Background

information on the boat:

The

Paa Grant Boat was acquired by the Assembly in 2005 to augment the

transportation needs of the people of Ankobra, Dominase, and other villages as

a gateway to Northern part of the Municipality and also served as one of the

revenue sources of the Municipal Assembly.

With

the passage of time in its useful life, it suffered deterioration though

periodic minor repair were carried out on it. Reports from the operators of the

boat indicated that the boat had developed major cracks on the base which

allowed water to enter making it unsafe for the transportation of people and

goods.

It

was therefore decided by management to suspend the operations of the boat for a

more permanent solution to be sought. Dura-Tech Fibre Glass Ltd, the manufacturer

of the boat was contacted to

assess its condition and advise management.

After

the inspection, it was reported that it had developed three major gaping holes

at the base and also had defective transom. The boat was declared NOT river/sea

worthy and recommendation was made for its refurbishment. An award of contract

was offered to Dura-Fibre Glass Ltd. to refurbish it.

On

Saturday, 11th February 2012 when the Manager of Dura-Tech Ltd.

mobilized to haul the boat to the factory to commence work, it was reported

that the boat could not be found at its moored location. A team of officers from

the Assembly led by

the Municipal Planning Officer was dispatched to the site and it was confirmed

that the boat was missing.

A

formal complaint was made to the police on Monday 13th February,

2012 and in furtherance to this, a delegation was sent to inform the Ankobra Chief

and his elders about this development on the 17th February,

2012. The issue was extensively

deliberated upon on any possible cause of its disappearance and it was

suggested that the bamboo operators who offload at the landing bay may also

have tampered with it pave way as a matter of convenience for their bamboo

business.

A

meeting with the bamboo operators was then scheduled by the Chief on Sunday, 19th

February, 2012 at the Chief Palace, Ankobra. At the meeting, it was generally

believed that the boat had sunk. They

however pledged their assistance to in the search and also suggested to the

Assembly to engage divers as well to make all effort to locate it along the

banks of the river.

I

wish to call on all to treat the accusations as palpable false and

unmeritorious which is spearheaded by made by Madam Catherine Afeku since its

one of her many strategies the she is adopting for her 2012 campaign and the

missing boat issue is one that.

The

incumbent Hon MP for Evalue Gwira has also been trying to provoke me into

making statements that would let me lose the long and hard won reputation as a

minister of my church and also the first gentleman of Nzema East Municipality.

It

never came as a surprise to me when the news was broadcasted on some media

outlets in both Accra and Takoradi since the people of Nzema East have now

become fed with Madam Afeku’s lies and fabrications being perpetrated against

my persona.

I

want to assure the good people of Nzema East that I will never let them down

and wish to state explicitly that the missing boat issue is under firm

control.