"Okumkom" Sabotages Defence Minister?

Defence Minister and Member of Parliament for Manhyia Constituency, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor last Friday "wept bitterly" shaking his head in utter disbelief over why his own friend could sabotage him over the commissioning of a project.

Looking very sad and disturbed, Dr. Addo Kufuor, who was on a tour of some selected projects in his constituency, had led people including supporters and activists of the party in the Manhyia Constituency to the Dichemso (AME) Zion School to inspect a library project, and for a moment he stood still with his hands still hanging in the air; not knowing what to say.


The library project has been completed several months ago, but, according to Dr. Addo Kufuor, the refusal of his close pal, Nana Kwasi Agyemang, who had donated ¢130 million towards it to release the keys to the building stalled its stocking with books and computers to occasion its commissioning.


The Defence Minister told the bewildered crowd that had followed him to the Dichemso AME Zion School's library project centre that, he made an appeal to his friends to assist him undertake the project and one of them whose name he did not disclose donated ¢130 million.


He said, ever since the project was completed, that friend has taken ownership of the project, and has refused to release the keys to allow the library to be stocked with materials for the pupils intended to benefit from it.


Dr. Addo Kufuor explained that at the onset of the project he had only ¢40 million in his Common Fund account hence his appeal to friends for help in putting up the library, a project dear to his heart.


"I get sad anytime I come here," said the defence minister.

Further enquiries by journalists revealed that former KMA Boss, Nana Akwasi Agyemang, popularly known as Okumkom, is the benefactor who donated the ¢130 million to assist in completing the project.


When word was sent to him, Akwasi Agyemang obliged to come, but he was not coming. When another call was placed to him he replied he was on his way to see Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and would come afterwards.


Disappointed, Dr. Addo-Kufuor and his entourage, including his constituency executive, had to leave the project centre without commissioning it.


Dr. Addo Kufuor said the books and computers worth ¢135 million sent to the school to stock the library are currently sitting in the headmaster's office.


Reliable information gathered by journalists indicated that Okumkom insists that he would release the keys only when he is reliably informed that President John Agyekum Kufuor is ready to commission the project.


Nana Akwasi Agyemang flared up when The Independent called him to cross-check the facts available to it on the matter. He asked, "Is it Addo Kufuor who said so?” This reporter answered in the negative, but before he could speak again, Okumkom hung up.