*As MCE Responds to Missing Boat Lies

The Municipal
Chief Executive (MCE) of Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Rev James Ackah
Cobbinah has responded to the missing boat allegation which indicts him of
allegedly masterminding in its disappearance as alluded by the Member of
Parliament for the area Madam Catherine Afeku with some sections of the media.
According
to him, the allegations made by Madam Afeku were false and baseless just to win
sympathy votes from the electorates who have lost confidence in her as a result
of her ‘sugar coated’ lies.
He
mentioned that, his office was aware of the disappearance of the boat stressing
that measures is in place to salvage the situation by procuring a new one to
enable users to access the Ankobra River to the Northern part of the
Municipality without any inconveniences.
The
MCE made this observation in a Press statement to react to a recent allegation meted
against him by the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area Madam Catherine
Ablema Afeku for allegedly selling the ‘Paa Grant’ Boat which was acquired by
the Assembly to the detriment of the masses who have now become handicapped due
to its disappearance.
Rev
Cobbinah intimated that the MP has totally lost touch with the good people of
Nzema East and has resorted to peddling of falsehood to cover her politically
ineptitude.
He
also added that the missing boat which was bought in 2005 by the erstwhile regime
aimed at augmenting the transportation needs of the people along the Ankobra, Dominase,
Ajomoro Eshiam, Kukuaville and other villages came as a shock to the Assembly
when the manufacturer Dura-Tech Limited with the intention of lifting it for
refurbishment discovered its absence and informed the Assembly.
“On
Saturday, 11th February 2012 when the Manager of Dura-Tech Ltd.
mobilized to haul the boat to the factory to commence work, it was reported
that the boat could not be found at its moored location. A team of officers from
the Assembly led by
the Municipal Planning Officer was dispatched to the site and it was confirmed
that the boat was missing”. Rev Cobbinah stressed.
Rev
Cobbinah further said that he knew very well of the strategies the Hon MP for
Evalue Gwira is adopting for her 2012 campaign and that the issue relating to
the boat is one.
He
called on all to consider the allegations by Madam Afeku as baseless and must
not be treated as a serious politician, since she has failed the people of the
area and was resorting to lies to gain favour.
Here are some
excerpts of his Press Statement issued last on Monday 18th June,
2012
Background
information on the boat:
The
Paa Grant Boat was acquired by the Assembly in 2005 to augment the
transportation needs of the people of Ankobra, Dominase, and other villages as
a gateway to Northern part of the Municipality and also served as one of the
revenue sources of the Municipal Assembly.
With
the passage of time in its useful life, it suffered deterioration though
periodic minor repair were carried out on it. Reports from the operators of the
boat indicated that the boat had developed major cracks on the base which
allowed water to enter making it unsafe for the transportation of people and
goods.
It
was therefore decided by management to suspend the operations of the boat for a
more permanent solution to be sought. Dura-Tech Fibre Glass Ltd, the manufacturer
of the boat was contacted to
assess its condition and advise management.
After
the inspection, it was reported that it had developed three major gaping holes
at the base and also had defective transom. The boat was declared NOT river/sea
worthy and recommendation was made for its refurbishment. An award of contract
was offered to Dura-Fibre Glass Ltd. to refurbish it.
On
Saturday, 11th February 2012 when the Manager of Dura-Tech Ltd.
mobilized to haul the boat to the factory to commence work, it was reported
that the boat could not be found at its moored location. A team of officers from
the Assembly led by
the Municipal Planning Officer was dispatched to the site and it was confirmed
that the boat was missing.
A
formal complaint was made to the police on Monday 13th February,
2012 and in furtherance to this, a delegation was sent to inform the Ankobra Chief
and his elders about this development on the 17th February,
2012. The issue was extensively
deliberated upon on any possible cause of its disappearance and it was
suggested that the bamboo operators who offload at the landing bay may also
have tampered with it pave way as a matter of convenience for their bamboo
business.
A
meeting with the bamboo operators was then scheduled by the Chief on Sunday, 19th
February, 2012 at the Chief Palace, Ankobra. At the meeting, it was generally
believed that the boat had sunk. They
however pledged their assistance to in the search and also suggested to the
Assembly to engage divers as well to make all effort to locate it along the
banks of the river.
I
wish to call on all to treat the accusations as palpable false and
unmeritorious which is spearheaded by made by Madam Catherine Afeku since its
one of her many strategies the she is adopting for her 2012 campaign and the
missing boat issue is one that.
The
incumbent Hon MP for Evalue Gwira has also been trying to provoke me into
making statements that would let me lose the long and hard won reputation as a
minister of my church and also the first gentleman of Nzema East Municipality.
It
never came as a surprise to me when the news was broadcasted on some media
outlets in both Accra and Takoradi since the people of Nzema East have now
become fed with Madam Afeku’s lies and fabrications being perpetrated against
my persona.
I
want to assure the good people of Nzema East that I will never let them down
and wish to state explicitly that the missing boat issue is under firm
control.