DCE appeals to media to promote peace

Apam (C/R), June 15, GNA - The Acting District Chief Executive for Gomoa, Ms Joyce Aidoo, has appealed to the media to stop drawing wedges between District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament. She noted that the two personalities should be seem as partners in development and said that the reportage of the media should promote unity instead of division.

"We need peace to focus on developmental issues," the DCE said adding that, "any attempt to knock our heads together, put us off guard." Ms Aidoo made the appeal at Apam in reaction to a report on Monday, which she said could create "bad blood" between her and Mr Joe Hackman, MP for Gomoa West.

It was alleged that the MP had collected 13 million cedis from his share of the Common Fund to pay the school fees of a girl. The DCE explained that the amount was for the renovation of the Apam Police station office, which was in a deplorable condition. The DCE said the request was approved and "I can testify that work on the project is progressing steadily".

"It is never true that the 13 million cedis was to pay for a student's fees", Ms Aidoo added.

She said Mr Hackman later submitted a request for one million cedis from the fund to pay the fees of a brilliant but needy student. "Unfortunately the application had nothing attached to prove that the girl is a student and that she is brilliant and needy. I therefore told the bearer of the application to tell the MP to attach the student's report for verification by auditors," she said. Miss Aidoo said Mr Hackman did not come to her himself but sent Mr Emmanuel Eshun, his campaign manager in the last general elections. "The MP could not have got annoyed and insulted me at my premises as reported when he did not come in person," she said.