DCE denies allegation of corruption

The Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Kenneth Obempong has denied he continued to collect his salary as a teacher after he was appointed DCE.

Speaking at a press conference at Ajumako on Monday in reaction to accusation by one Seth Akyirefi, a citizen of Ajumako, Mr Obempong said even though he had been granted secondment by the Ghana Education Service (GES) his name still appeared on its pay voucher six months after his appointment as DCE.

He said he became aware of this anomaly following an audit query during the recent head count of teachers in the district. Mr Obempong, therefore, paid into government's chest 5,367,051 cedis salary that went into his bank account. He also denied he had bought two taxi cabs since his appointment saying he owned a taxi cab number GR 5633 G and a motor-bike number ER 4651 C before he became DCE.

Mr Obempong said he sold the old taxi and bought another one number GT 8912 Q. "I am not a poor teacher as Mr Akyirefi sought to portray," he said and added that he owned a two-bedroom house that he was in the process of extending before his appointment.

He said before he took office as DCE in February 2001 he made his personality notes available to the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) that covered his properties. Mr Obempong said his administration was open to all citizens and appealed to anyone who had any genuine concern to seek clarification instead of telling lies about people in authority.