New Takoradi, Jan. 17, GNA - Tension is mounting between the Chief and Elders and the Assemblyman for New Takoradi in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly, on one hand and the Unit Committee of the Lower Town.

In a letter signed by Nana Yaw Nketsiah IV, Divisional Chief, Mr. Ekow Ackon an Elder and John K. Koomson, the Assemblyman, they accused the eight-member Committee of not rendering accounts of their stewardship for the past 16 years.

The letter copied to the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Philip K. Nkrumah, the Western Regional Minister and the Regional and District Police Commanders, stated that the Committee had failed to render accounts to the community on revenue from the market, sale of pipe borne water and fees for the use of the public bathhouse. It said that in spite persistent demand the Committee made up of Mr. E. E. Adoko, Mr. Addison Dadzie, Mr Kojo Orotto, Odeshee, Papa Taabi, John Ato Atoaba, Justice Ackon and Kofi Thousand, had also refused to hand over to a newly constituted five-member Finance Committee. The Chief, Elders and the Assemblyman appealed to the MCE and other stakeholders to instruct the Unit Committee members to render accounts and hand over to the new Finance Committee.

Mr. John A. Atoaba, secretary of the Unit Committee in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) denied the accusation and said the group had been rendering accounts to the past Assembly Members during their tenure.

Mr. Atoaba said between January and December last year, a total of 3,150,000 cedis was realized out of which 1.6 million cedis went to the Chief, 900,000 cedis to Unit Committee and 300,000 to the community leaving an outstanding of 350,000 cedis in their custody.

He said the distribution was based on an earlier agreement between Unit Committee members and the people including the Chief and Assemblyman.