Deputy Minister Exposes More Fraud, Negligence

THE DEPUTY Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Capt. Nkrabea Effah-Darteh (rtd), has exposed more of the frauds and negligence that went on in some district assemblies under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Addressing a special session of the Kwaebibirem District Assembly (KbDA) at Kade last Friday, the minister said in the whole Agona district of the Ashanti Region, market revenue that used to be recorded in the assembly's book each month was ?400,000.

As the NPP assumed office and instilled discipline into the system, the figure has suddenly shot up to ?2.5 million every week.

"In the Yilo Krobo district, and at Boti Falls to be precise, only ?200,000 was said to be realized every Republic Day (July 1) when holiday makers went there to have fun. Last July 1, that is under our regime, ?800,000 was collected," Capt. Effah-Darteh said.

On the Techiman market in the Brong Ahafo Region where tolls collected hovered around ?1 million each market day, ?1.8 million is now realized, he added.

Giving an instance of negligence, the minister reported that the headmaster of Suman Ahenkro Secondary School, in the Jaman district of Brong Ahafo, wanted the NDC DCE to help him build a hostel for the school.

The school had secured a ?40 million grant from the US Embassy and required a little more assistance.

"The DCE said no, estimating that the hostel would cost about ?600 million and declaring that the assembly could just not pay the difference.

Eventually, the headmaster relied on communal labour to build the hostel: it cost only ?35 million!"

The minister, in fact, said corruption had been nurtured and ingrained in the Ghanaian body politic so much so that if we can half the haemorrhage to 50%, Ghana will suddenly become a paradise."

He, therefore, charged all assembly members in the country with the onerous responsibility of monitoring activities of their DCEs, assembly tender boards and employees.

"You are the vehicle to carry your respective districts to the land of prosperity and progress and if the revenue officers are the problem, let us know and we will transfer them. Those who are guilty of corruption, we will put them before the Fast Track Courts and, if found guilty, we will jail them."

Among the main sources that the revenue collectors should aim at are property rates, building permit fees, development levies, business operating licence and fees chargeable on gas filling stations, hotels, the mines, slaughter houses, chop bars and bicycle riders, the ex-Captain ordered.

The KbDA was created in 1988 and at the moment comprises of two constituencies - Akwatia and Kade.

Both MPs, Kingston Kissi and Ofosu Asamoah for Akwatia and Kade respectively took turns to brief the assembly on their parliamentary duties and the development agenda of the government.

The Kade man debunked recent press reports that many parliamentarians fail to attend sittings, thereby shirking their responsibilities.

He explained that most MPs not found in their seats in the main hall of Parliament could be sitting on committees, touring the country or had travelled outside, as part of parliamentary select committees.

"Being ex-officio members of our respective district assemblies enjoins us also to attend assembly sessions and that should be seen as our duties and not dodging our parliamentary responsibilities."

Asamoah also sought to justify the proposal to lend each MP $20,000 to purchase a car on the grounds that judges and ministers are not only given free cars, but drivers, free fuel and car maintenance allowances.

The DCE, Yaw Yiadom Boakye, announced that the assembly had been able to recover ?38,473,000 from Poverty Alleviation Fund loans given last year, between June and September, this year.

Up till May ending, only ?3,954,000 had been collected, he said.