Konadu, Mills ex-MPs cited in fraud

The Independent reports of trouble brewing in the Assin District of the Central Region over the misappropriation and alleged embezzlement of part of the Assembly's Common Fund detected by the Auditor General's Department.

According to an auditor's report covering the Assembly's financial operations, the Assembly cannot account for ?106 million.

The report stated that ?28 million out of the amount was spent on the former Vice President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills when he undertook a campaign trip to the district during the 2000 elections.

The report also disclosed that ?22 million of the amount was spent on the former first lady when she visited the district to commission an oil producing factory. The audit report further hinted that the former Members of Parliament (MPs) for Assin North and South, Alhassan Kweku Dadzie and Florence Kumi, had taken a total amount of ?45 million from their share of the common fund but the two have not been able to justify what the money was used for.

It further stated that the Assembly's records show that on February 11, 2000 an amount of ?11 million was withdrawn from the Assembly's coffers without supporting documents. Consequently the audit report covering the period from March 1999 to April 2000 has recommended the refund of all monies withdrawn from the Assembly coffers without authority else those involved would face the full rigours of the law.