Brong-Ahafo Regional Association of Barbers are demanding the whereabouts of the equipment which were presented by the First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama at Bechem on April 6, 2015.

Mrs. Mahama presented equipment to the Association of tailors, hairdressers, beauticians, artisans and barbers in the Brong-Ahafo Region, after some of their members completed training in various fields of vocation, under the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training programme by the Government.

Speaking to The Chronicle in Sunyani, the Regional Vice Chairman of the Barbers Association, Mr. Evans Kwaku Annor, indicated that all other Associations have received their respective equipment and have subsequently distributed them to the expected beneficiaries, however, that of the Barbers Association has still not been received.

According to Mr. Evans Annor, several attempts to retrieve the equipments seems unsuccessful because they were directed to go to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly for the equipment, but to no avail, as they are being tossed around.

He said members of the Barbers Association have been chasing the Regional Executives and demanding the equipment to be used for the intended purpose of creating opportunities for the underprivileged in the society to develop their entrepreneurial skills, as well as start their own businesses, since that was the reason for the First Lady’s gesture.

“First we went to the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Kwasi Oppong Ababio, who said the equipment did not come to the Assembly, so we were directed to the Regional Coordinating Council, but the Deputy Regional Minister, Justice Samuel Agyei expressed surprised that the equipment have not been received by the Barbers.” Mr. Annor narrated.

He continued that the deputy regional minister asked them to wait till the Regional Minister, Eric Opoku returned from his trip abroad, because the equipment were all handed over to him. The Brong-Ahafo Barbers Association have expressed their worry and are demanding the whereabouts of the equipment and who really is in charge for their distribution, otherwise they will advise themselves.

Justice Samuel Agyei told The Chronicle, when contacted that, the front of the Regional Barbers Association is divided and that another faction might have gone for equipment without the knowledge of the others.

The Deputy Regional Minister, therefore, urged The Chronicle to assist in investigations to ascertain whether the Barbers Association had a united front to help identify the whereabouts of the equipment.

The Barbers Association also insist there is no a divided or splinter group among barbers in the region so it would be surprising for any group to use the name of the Association to go for the equipment.