Youth of Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region have demanded the immediate removal of their Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Atik Dauda, over alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the assembly.

The call comes 24 hours after the resignation of the mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, following pressure on him by the Asanteman Council to resign.

At a news conference on Wednesday July 13, the youth also demanded thorough investigations into some suspicious contracts awarded by the assembly.

Evans Osei Gyasi, spokesperson for the youth, who addressed the press conference, said: “Documental evidence has it that an amount of GHS15, 823.61 and GHS44, 935.50 have been paid to [Michess, to Nania consult, and Kabena Company Limited] respectively by management of Wenchi Municipal Assembly on May 5, 2016 as the cost of a completion of a capacity-building seminar for assembly members, unit committee members, heads of departments, selected staff, and revenue collectors.

It was revealed at the last but one ordinary meeting of the general assembly on 23 June, 2016, that the said capacity-building seminar had never occurred and management had never for once communicated to the stated beneficiaries of any intended seminar.”

The youth are, therefore, demanding an independent forensic audit into the activities of the assembly from July 2015 to May 2016.

“We request that a thorough investigation be conducted immediately into all the issues that we have raised. We again request that the signatories, those who authorized the payment of these dubious monies, that is, the MCE, the director, the finance officers, immediately refund these monies into the municipality’s coffers.

The coordinating director and municipal finance officer, who engineered these payments, should be immediately transferred from this municipality. We request that the MCE be removed from office immediately,” Mr. Gyasi added.

The youth also demanded that all officers transferred from the assembly be brought back since their transfer can compromise any investigation into the issues they have raised.

“We demand that those who have been transferred be brought back immediately if the leaders of this country are not compromising on these issues that we have raised… We seek this action within the next 10 days else we the youth of this municipality will declare Friday July 22, a red day and demonstrate massively,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the MCE for the area, Atik Dauda, has said the youth are only trying to run him down and that he would respond appropriately in due course.