Ex-SIL MP fails to release cash for projects

Akoasi (Eastern Region) -- Almost nineteen months after collecting over ?10m from his assembly’s share of the common fund, the Birim North Member of Parliament, Dr William Boakye Akoto, (a former regular contributor to Ghanaweb's discussion forum) has failed to refund the money in spite of ‘brotherly’ advice and explanation given to him by the sector minister and the spokesman from the minority in Parliament.

Dr Akoto collected the money to rehabilitate some schools at Akoase whose roofs had been ripped off by rainstorm on 21 March last year.

When The Chronicle first broke the story some weeks back, the MP fired a rejoinder and mounted several radio platforms to insist that he could not use the ?10.051m he collected since it was inadequate to rehabilitate all the schools affected. He was therefore seeking more assistance at appropriate quarters to enable him adequately assist all the affected schools.

The Minister of Local Government, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo however, insisted that the MP should first refund the money to the district assembly’s account since the MPs share of the common fund is not their personal money but meant for the development of their respective constituencies.

A visit by the paper to the affected schools at Akoase revealed that the damage caused to the schools have still not be repaired. The PTA in some of the schools have however, done some partial repairs.

At Akoase Methodist Primary Schoo, the headteacher, Susana Owusua, told the paper that classes one, two, three and four were affected. She said even though officials of the regional branch of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo Mensah, and the MP for Birim North, Dr Boakye Akoto, visited all the affected schools, took measurements and pictures, yet over seventeen months now, nothing has been heard from them.

According to her, the school PTA has managed some partial repairs to enable the children attend classes. She however, said the entire school building needs major repairs.

The headteacher of the Akoase R/C Primary school, A.K. Dzre, said the entire primary one and two buildings had their roofs ripped off and since no repairs had been done, the school authorities decided to combine some of the classes to enable all the school children attend classes. He appealed to the authorities concerned to assist the school to repair all the damaged portions of the building to ensure easy learning and teaching.

Akoasi (Eastern Region) -- Almost nineteen months after collecting over ?10m from his assembly’s share of the common fund, the Birim North Member of Parliament, Dr William Boakye Akoto, (a former regular contributor to Ghanaweb's discussion forum) has failed to refund the money in spite of ‘brotherly’ advice and explanation given to him by the sector minister and the spokesman from the minority in Parliament.

Dr Akoto collected the money to rehabilitate some schools at Akoase whose roofs had been ripped off by rainstorm on 21 March last year.

When The Chronicle first broke the story some weeks back, the MP fired a rejoinder and mounted several radio platforms to insist that he could not use the ?10.051m he collected since it was inadequate to rehabilitate all the schools affected. He was therefore seeking more assistance at appropriate quarters to enable him adequately assist all the affected schools.

The Minister of Local Government, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo however, insisted that the MP should first refund the money to the district assembly’s account since the MPs share of the common fund is not their personal money but meant for the development of their respective constituencies.

A visit by the paper to the affected schools at Akoase revealed that the damage caused to the schools have still not be repaired. The PTA in some of the schools have however, done some partial repairs.

At Akoase Methodist Primary Schoo, the headteacher, Susana Owusua, told the paper that classes one, two, three and four were affected. She said even though officials of the regional branch of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo Mensah, and the MP for Birim North, Dr Boakye Akoto, visited all the affected schools, took measurements and pictures, yet over seventeen months now, nothing has been heard from them.

According to her, the school PTA has managed some partial repairs to enable the children attend classes. She however, said the entire school building needs major repairs.

The headteacher of the Akoase R/C Primary school, A.K. Dzre, said the entire primary one and two buildings had their roofs ripped off and since no repairs had been done, the school authorities decided to combine some of the classes to enable all the school children attend classes. He appealed to the authorities concerned to assist the school to repair all the damaged portions of the building to ensure easy learning and teaching.