Minister Defends "Rags to Riches" DCE

Volta Regional Minister, Joseph Amenorwode has reacted to a recent Daily Guide newspaper report saying "there is nothing wrong with a DCE acquiring a VW Jetta and a house five months after coming into office."

According to Mr. Amenorwode, once the District Assembly had not complained about missing money, there was no need for the DCE's actions to be questioned. He told journalists to concentrate on developmental stories in the region instead of writing to expose politicians and questioned which journalism institute the reporter who wrote the story attended.

Mr. Amenorwode made these statements Friday when Executives and members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid him a courtesy call and to introduce to him the 2008 Best Rural reporter, Victor Kwawukume who is also the GJA Regional Chairman. The DCE was a worker before coming into office. He had a car which he sold towards the political campaign and he is equally capable of building a house and buying a vehicle within five months of coming into office, he said.

The Volta Regional Minister, cautioned journalists to stop "damaging his DCEs on issues of misappropriating public funds and always cross check information about them from him therefore publishing. He claimed that if such media reports come out about young DCEs in the region, other young men will be discouraged from venturing into politics adding. "When you damage my DCEs, it is me you are damaging."

Arguing vehemently on the DCEs behalf, Mr. Amenorwode hinted those who contested the DCE position with him might be the ones behind the said report. He added that because the DCE is not lavishing money and dancing to the tune of some people in the District they have resorted to destroying him.

Meanwhile the Volta Regional Minister has congratulated Mr. Kwawukume for being a pacesetter. He commended the media for the positive reportage they have given him so far as regional minister saying, "I am very grateful to some of you especially GBC, Daily Graphic, Times, Chronicle and to some extent the Enquirer, you are the media houses I can rely on." Sometimes my colleagues wonder what at all I have done for the press that they give me so much positive reports," he said.