SOCIAL denial embezzlement

Mr Anthony Boafo, Acting Brong Ahafo Regional Storekeeper of Cocoa Inputs Stores has denied allegations of embezzlement of funds at the stores in some parts of the region.

Speaking to newsmen at Sunyani on Tuesday, he said Nana Yaw Barima Suadwa, 1993/94 national best cocoa and coffee farmer who made the allegations in the "Ghanaian Times" of November 13, and called for an investigation, "acted out of malice and bitterness".

"To the best of my knowledge, he has an axe to grind with some people within the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association and wanted to destroy them".

The Regional Storekeeper was reacting to the publication, in which Nana Suadwa alleged that billions of cedis, being proceeds from the sale of spraying machines, insecticides, cutlasses and wellington boots, had been embezzled at stores at Goaso, Hwidiem, Sunyani, Bechem, Mim, Sankore, Asumura and Kukuom.

Nana Suadwa also called for the dissolution of the farmers' association because "it is headed by politicians who are not genuine farmers".

Asked if he would welcome a probe into the operation of the stores, Mr Boafo said he was not the right person to answer and directed newsmen to his boss in Accra.

He told the Ghana News Agency that Input Stores were audited every six months and storekeepers found to have misappropriated funds were sanctioned.

He said at the moment, some storekeepers were facing court action for such offences.