DCEs are corrupt

?Scent no-o-o-o-o-o ?Agye babia-a-a-a-a

The allegations are coming in thick and fast and from nowhere but from inside the NPP itself. ?Our DCEs are corrupt?, they seem to be saying, as they plead with President Kufuor to remove them from office or not to re-nominate them for a second term in order to save the Party from disgrace.

As the momentum builds up towards the President?s nomination of DCEs for their second terms under the Kufuor Presidency, the allegations are coming in as if ?medicine has caught them? (?aduro akye won?, as the Akans say) as NPP executives, DCEs, potential DCEs, NPP malcontents and other hangers-on reveal the real dirt in the ?sanctus sanctorum? of NPP corruption.

As usual, however, President Kufuor is standing by his mantra ? ?see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil? ? as far as NPP appointees are concerned. He will neither investigate the allegations nor cause them to be investigated, nor even mention them publicly, for as he said in his now infamous Cape Coast ?waa, waa? speech, ?we do that to destroy the government that you have put in place and Ghana will not be better served by talking without a sense of responsibility?.

In the past few weeks alone, the following damning revelations, accusations and allegations have been made by NPP executives and NPP members against NPP DCEs.

Mr. Nsiah Agyapong, Asutifi District (Brong Ahafo Region)

Constituency executives of the district branch of the NPP, in a rejoinder to the ?Daily Graphic?, accused the DCE of corruption, selfishness, dishonesty and capricious dealings.

They alleged that additionally, though the District Assembly sponsored the DCE twice to the USA to pursue sister city relations, the trips never benefited the district and appealed to President Kufuor to investigate the allegations.

(Daily Graphic, Wednesday, April 6, 2005, Page 15).

Mr. D. A. K. Yeboah, Adansi South District (Ashanti Region)

The chiefs and people of New Edubiase, the district capital, accused the DCE of not having what it takes to perform the roles of his office. According to them, he lacked the qualities of a leader, had no respect for the opinion leaders and chiefs, and had lost the confidence of the people. They also accused the DCE of being anti-development.

(Daily Graphic, Wednesday, April 6, 2005, Page 31).

Mr. Andrews Kwesi Teye, Manya Krobo District (Eastern Region)

He has been accused of bribery, acts of omission, laziness, ineffectiveness and corruption.

(Daily Graphic, Wednesday, April 6, 2005, Page 8).

Mr. Kwesi Biney, Ahanta West District (Western Region)

He has been accused of being a threat to development, being arrogant and disrespectful to the chiefs, and referring to them as ?elementary boots?.

(Chronicle, Tuesday, April 5, 2005, Front Page).

Mr. Solomon Donkor, Jasikan District (Volta Region)

NPP executives have accused him of neglecting the party, that he is arrogant, dictatorial and autocratic. He has also been accused of financial malfeasance

(Daily Graphic, Saturday, March 19, 2005, Page 16).

Mr. Kofi Plahar, Dangme East District (Greater Accra Region)

NPP executive members of Ada and Sege constituencies have accused him of being selective in the disbursement of the micro-finance fund, lack of accountability and administering the loans without regard to policy directives. They have also accused him of arrogance and incompetence.

(Daily Guide, Tuesday, March 15, 2005, Page 8).

Mr. Kwabena Kyere Yeboah, Berekum District (Brong Ahafo Region)

A Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Committee recommended that he and the then Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey (Rtd) should be sanctioned over the release of the full contract sum of ?300 million to a contractor constructing the Jinijini Community Centre when the project had not been completed.

(Chronicle, Thursday, April 7, 2005, Page 10).

Mr Yaw Yiadom Boakye, Kwaebibirem District (Eastern Region)

Kwaebibirem Youth have accused him of having very poor human relations. According to them, apart from the NPP constituency chairman whom he shares a common cake with, he is cold towards other executives and even MPs.

They accused the DCE of sitting on ?150 million that was transferred from the Women?s Ministry for disbursement to women in the district, which they said had been stuck in the HIPC accounts for the past two years

Flashback??

It will be recalled that in our issue Vol. 10 No. 37 of Friday, February 27 ? Monday, March 1, 2004, under the headline, ?DCEs are chopping all the money??Waa, Waa, Waa!? we published a list of DCEs against whom accusations of corruption and other malfeasances had been made. They comprised the following:

Mr. Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipality (Greater Accra Region)

He awarded inflated fumigation contracts to a high profile NPP official but refused to disclose his identity.

Mr. Andrews Teye, Manya Krobo District (Eastern Region)

The DCE, his Coordinating Director, Finance Officer and Engineer, have been accused of naked bribery, misappropriation of funds, theft, wilfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of ?7 billion, ?21.7 million of which was used for the visit of Vice President Aliu Mahama and ?8.9 million of which was used for the visit of First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor.

Akatsi DCE (Volta Region)

He has connived with the NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr. M. Q. Ahiafor, to have the latter execute projects for the running of the NPP in the district.

Mr. Cadman Linus Koffie, Ketu District (Volta Region)

He conspired with the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, to divert 4 Yamaha 40 HP outboard motors meant for the Denu Central Association, to Ms. Akua Vorde, the girl friend of the Deputy Regional Minister; the two also diverted 15 units of Yamaha 40 HP outboard motors estimated to cost ?62.7 million intended for fishermen in the Ketu and Denu districts.

Mr. Andrews Kwesi Teye, Manya Krobo District, (Eastern Region)

He built a 12-seater water closet toilet at a cost of ?240 million, whilst the same toilet at the Kwahu South district was valued at ?140 million.

Mr. Samuel Nii Anyeteh, Ga District (Greater Accra Region)

He received ?1 million bribe for helping to release a female businesswoman when she was arrested for illegal gravel winning in his district.

Dr. (Mrs.) Eugenia Dankwa Smith, Akwapim North District (Eastern Region)

She did not seek the approval of the District Tender Board for ten contracts worth ?1 billion but awarded them before informing members of the District Tender Board.

Mr. Bismark Dari, East Gonja District (Northern Region)

He corruptly acquired three houses and a flat and a first class communications centre.

Mr. Johnson Ofori Asubonteng, Jaman District (Brong Ahafo Region)

He and his Accounts Officer, Mr. Appiah Adjei, awarded a contract for the construction of a Home Science Block at Kwasibuokrom worth ?375 million to Messrs Buican Construction Company Ltd. but executed the contract themselves without the knowledge of the contractor.

Nana Emmanuel Duku, Dormaa District (Brong Ahafo Region)

He lured a married woman to have sex with him in return for favours in his capacity as the DCE but could not deliver on his promise and has since paid ?4 million to cover up the sordid act.

Mr. Andrews Yaw Adu-Nyarko, Akwapim South District (Eastern Region)

He and Hon. Seth Wiafe-Dankwa, MP, are involved in a bribery and diversion of illegal chain saw timber whose investigations have been completed by the BNI.

Alhaji Sulemana Adams Achana, Bole District (Northern Region)

He, as Special Assistant to Alhaji Musa Moctar Bamba, MP and former Deputy Minister in the Office of the President, was involved in the fraudulent activities of the latter, including a junk-bond visa scam and two Austrian visa frauds.

Mr. Victor Owusu-Ahinkorah, Birim North District (Eastern Region)

He and Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Amoako, Presiding Member, are involved in offences of abuse of office and allowing chain saw operators and timber merchants to take away timber, which had been impounded by a Task Force.

Mr. Solomon Kwame Donkor, Jasikan District (Volta Region)

He awarded 14 contracts worth ?738,122,670.00 without the authority of the District Tender Board, with the excuse that they were election year emergency purchases.

Mr. Rockson Bukari, Bolgatanga District (Upper East Region)

He is to account for an amount of ?1.6 billion which was meant for renovation works at the Bolgatanga SSS, but which has gone missing.

Mr. Joe Dankwa, Wenchi District (Brong Ahafo Region)

He has been indicted by Parliament for wrongfully awarding contracts for the renovation of his official bungalow without going through the District Tender Board or any other procedure.