Members of Krachi East Fishermen and Fishmongers Association have asked government to ensure that implementation of the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) was truly non-partisan.
A petition signed by Mr. Kwasi Ananego, Vice Chairman of the Association, alleged that its members were denied outboard motors allocated to the District on the basis that they belong to the New Patriotic Party.
The petition said five additional outboard motors allocated to the Association were also allegedly diverted by Mr. Raphael Ogyemoko, Krachi East District Chief Executive and Mr. Wisdom Gidisu, Member of Parliament for the area.
The petition indicated that the Association made up of 20 fishing groups spent a total of GH¢50,000 on activities to facilitate the programme in the District.
The petitioners appealed to the Government to intervene to protect the credibility of the Programme in the district.
Mr. Emmanuel Kafui Darlington Drayi, Volta Regional Coordinator of LESDEP, said his outfit allocated a total of 11 outboard motors to the District.
He explained that because the District had no District Coordinator at the time, he dealt with the DCE who is the head of the Programme in the District.
“I gave out six outboard motors first, then later, another five, following complaints by the Association, but you know, the DCE is the head of the Programme in the District,” Mr Drayi stated.
On the GH¢50,000, he said his outfit did not take any money from the Association and did not know what the amount was spent on.
Mr. Drayi explained that the programme was meant to benefit all Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliations or any other considerations.
Mr. Ogyemoko, the DCE told the GNA that the outboard motors were given to groups outside the District capital which hardly benefited from any such government programme.**
