Upper Manya DCE Locks Staff Over GH¢67,900 Embezzlement; Funds Recovered and Paid Into Assembly Account

Upper Manya DCE Locks Staff Over GH¢67,900 Embezzlement; Funds Recovered and Paid Into Assembly Account

In a bold and dramatic move to combat corruption, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, has caused the arrest of three top officials over the alleged embezzlement of GH¢67,900 in Internally Generated Funds (IGF).

The DCE, who assumed office barely two months ago, uncovered discrepancies in the Assembly’s finances during an internal audit and initiated an investigation. The probe revealed that the District Finance Officer (DFO), Accounts Officer, and Revenue Superintendent had allegedly misappropriated IGF funds spanning late 2024 to early 2025.

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Hon. Lawer summoned the three implicated officers to his office for questioning. During the meeting, he requested the submission of three General Counterfoil Receipt (GCR) booklets believed to be linked to the missing funds. However, when the DFO refused to comply, the DCE reportedly locked all three officers in his office and immediately alerted the police.

The DCE’s swift action yielded immediate results. The following amounts were recovered:

GH¢5,800 was refunded by the Revenue Superintendent.

GH¢27,600 was returned by the Accounts Officer.

GH¢34,500 was withdrawn from the DFO’s personal bank account in Koforidua the next day under police escort.

The total amount of GH¢67,900 has since been paid in full into the Assembly’s main account.

Hon. Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, a seasoned assembly member before his appointment as DCE, reiterated his administration's zero-tolerance stance on corruption. Speaking after the incident, he affirmed his commitment to transparency and accountability in public service.

“We will not tolerate any form of financial misconduct under my leadership. The people of Upper Manya Krobo deserve responsible governance. This is just the beginning—there will be a comprehensive audit to uncover and recover every cedi lost,” he declared.

The Ghana Police Service is continuing its investigations to determine whether further legal action will be taken against the three officials involved.

The DCE’s firm stance and decisive intervention have been praised by many within the district as a refreshing step toward restoring public trust in local governance.

Source: Caleb Nii Boye