Ex-DCE Held for ?2.3b Debt

THE AUDIT report of the Jaman District Assembly has indicated that the assembly under the administration of the ex-DCE, Mr. Matthew Kwabena Gyasi, incurred a debt of ?2.3billion as a result of projects initiated, even though there is no documentary proof.

The ex-DCE of Jaman District, who was among the worst offenders, dissipated the taxpayers' money with impunity.

This was disclosed in an interview with the current DCE of Jaman District, Mr. Ofori Asubonteng at Drobo last week.

Asubonteng said members of staff of his assembly were very much surprised when ex-DCE told the auditors he had committed?230 million to a contract which none of the staff members knew anything about.

At Jamera in Sampa, he said, the ex-DCE spent ?935million, whilst ?54 million was taken from the coffers of the district assembly without accounting for. meanwhile there is no document on the ?935 million contract he awarded.

Digging deep into the audit report, Chronicle gathered that a non-existing road contract which cost the assembly ?400 million was awarded to a road contractor in the district for regravelling.

The people in the community who spoke to the Chronicle called for immediate prosecution of the ex-DCE so that the monies which he had looted from the office could be traced as early as possible.

With the huge debt incurred by the district assembly, the current NPP DCE, said he had drawn an effective strategy to get money within the district by collecting revenue from store operators to run the district so the assembly will not only rely on the District Assembly's Common Fund.

As part of the district assembly's goal to enhance better education, the assembly will provide adequate classrooms to pupils in the remote areas where teachers do not want to go.

He said teachers would be motivated to go to such remote areas so that the children there could also benefit from education.

The assembly, he said, will from this year sponsor students from the district who are entering teacher training colleges by paying their admission fees and other necessary expenses so that they will be forced to teach in the district for three years after graduation before they could be transferred.

He said the assembly in collaboration with the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), will assist brilliant students especially the girls financially to study up to the university level so the district could also get intellectuals.