Another DCE named in fresh bribery allegations by Hansol mines

The District Chief Executive for Asankragua in the Western Region, Victor Samuel Meisu, has been accused of allegedly collecting GH¢70,000.00 from Hansol Mining Company with the pretence of sorting the inter-ministerial team, the police and the national security to protect the company from any attack.

Mr. Meisu is reported to have sent the National Democratic Congress constituency Chairman in Asankragua in the Amenfi West District, Mr. Kwame Kusi to the offices of Hansol Mining in Tema on the 31st of May 2013 and allegedly demanded the said amount.

Mr. Meisu is the second state official to have been accused of allegedly taking bribe from miners after the Municipal Chief Executive for Upper Denkyira East in the Central region, Peter Kofi Owusu Ashia, was last week arrested together with some immigration officials by the Inter-ministerial taskforce instituted to clamp down on illegal mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’ mining.

Peter Kofi Owusu Ashia and his accomplices were arrested following allegations of bribery and extortion from some foreigners who are engaged in the practice. Mr. Ashia, however, denied the reports of his arrest claiming that the story may have been “cooked” by some persons in the area.

In the latest development, the Managing Director of Hansol Mining Company, Bernard Antwi Boasiako told Myjoyonline.com in an interview that his company issued cheques for GH¢20,000, GH¢20,000 and GH¢30,000 which were withdrawn by Asankragua NDC Chairman Mr. Kusi, on the 3rd of June 2013, at the Premier Barclays Bank in Asankragua.

Meanwhile, both the DCE and the NDC chairman have flatly denied the bribery allegation. While Mr. Meisu said he never led any delegation to the premises of Hansol Mining Company, Mr. Kusi, however, admits going there to collect the money but said it was meant for fulfillment of a business transaction he had with the mining company.

Mr. Kusi claims the money was for the payment of mining on a concession he owned in the Asankragua area. He, therefore, challenged Mr. Antwi Boasiako to produce evidence to back the claim that he [Kusi] took the money to bribe the DCE.