Ashaiman NDC takes over public toilets

Tema, Jan. 13, GNA - Management of all the 18 public toilets in Ashaiman have been taken over by some executive members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Ashaiman, soon after their party over took the administration of the country.
Though management of the facilities were under privatization programme, therefore not partisan, the NDC members forcibly found their way there.
The Chief Executive for Ashaiman Municipality, Mr Albert Boakye Okyere has described the turn of events as illegal, as the term of contract of managing the toilets ends in December 2010. He however said despite the take over, the facilities remain that of the Assembly.
In an interview with the GNA on Tuesday, he said operators of the public sanitary facilities have lodged official complaint to the Assembly and he informed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) which has asked him to submit a report on the situation. Giving the background to the management of the facilities, Mr Okyere said about nine years ago, some cadres were in charge but realising that their operations were being mismanaged; the Tema Municipal Assembly took over the operations and later privatized it. He said it was placed on tender for bidding and those who won the contract were allowed to operate them and this has being the scenario ever since.
Mr Okyere said commission on the proceeds of the patronage was given to the Assembly on monthly basis.
Meanwhile, an activist of the NDC at Ashaiman, Mr Abdulai Baba Gomda has condemned the action by his compatriots saying it contradicts President John Evans Atta Mills' assertion of asking all Chief Executives of the Assembly to be at post until further notice. Mr Gomda said appropriately, the previous operators should have been allowed to be at post to render accounts before the forcible take over "but as it is my people, they just took away the monies and drove them from the place".
He claimed between GH¢50.00 and GH¢100 was realised daily depending on the population of the area and patronage.