TMA boss won't be spared if found guilty - Minister

The Minister of Local Government, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu has directed the Executive Committee of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) to meet and discuss the report of the ad-hoc committee on Finance and Administration of the Assembly in respect of allegations against the Chief Executive.

He said the government would not hesitate to take disciplinary action against Mr Evans Ashong-Narh, the MCE, if ongoing investigations into the mode of award of contracts at the Assembly establish any corruption act against him. Mr Baah-Wiredu, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, gave this assurance in an interview with The Evening News in Accra on findings so far made against Mr Ashong-Narh who has been accused of corrupt practices by a three member ad-hoc committee of the Assembly.

Mr Ashong-Narh is alleged to have awarded contracts totaling ?1.2 billion without notice and ratification of the Tender Board of the TMA. They include an ?810 million contracts for the fumigation of refuse, ?660 million contracts for the revolution of property rate of which ?166 million had already been paid to the Land Valuation Board and an award for the TMA?s Computerization project.

The Minister pointed out that while Municipal Tender Boards under normal circumstances should approve contracts by the Assembly, provision had also been made under the Local Government Laws for the Chief Executives to negotiate some agreement under certain exigencies. Such agreements, should however be ratified by the Assembly, he explained.

He said it was irregular for the three-member ad-hoc committee to leak its findings to the media when the Executive Committee and the Finance and Administration Sub-Committee of the Assembly which mandated it, had not discussed the report. Mr Baah-Wiredu said the ad-hoc committee also failed to give the Municipal Chief Executive the chance to explain himself on the alleged financial malpractice.

He said after the Executive Committee of the Assembly had met on the report of the ad-hoc committee, the Ministry would act on the findings. Mr Baah-Wredu said when it becomes necessary, the ministry would also take another look at the cost of those contracts since not all the moneys had been disbursed.