A pressure group, Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability has described as hypocritical the call by President Akufo-Addo on Traditional Rulers in the Bono Region to help him fight corruption when his Bono Region Minister is an epitome of corruption.
According to the Coalition’s Convenor, Mr. Francis Atta Kusi, “President Akuffo Addo last week came to the Bono region as part of his working visit and campaign towards the 2020 general elections and as part of his engagements, he met the traditional authorities and appealed to them to partner with him and his government in fighting corruption. We find this call by the president to be very hypocritical and surprising because sitting at his immediate right was the non-performing, clueless and corrupt Bono Regional minister who he (Mr. President) has failed to deal with despite glaring evidence of several corruption acts that has engulfed his own Bono Regional minister Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson.”
Emphasizing their point, Mr. Kusi asked: “Is Mr. President telling the chiefs and good people of Bono Region that he is not aware of the 2018 Auditor General’s report that indicted his own minister and asked her to refund several thousands of Ghana Cedis which she (Bono Regional minister) took illegally back into the coffers of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly during her days as MCE for Sunyani?”
The group has also accused the Regional Minister of planning to state bungalows to a Sunyani-based businessman for a lofty “kickback” – an action they said they will fight against.
“Again, credible sources we have gathered has it that, the Bono Regional minister has already made plans to liaise with the Lands Commission to sell off the bungalows opposite the prisons service and its related land to a businessman in Sunyani (name withheld) at a fee that is almost equal to a free gift while the minister herself will take a huge sum of money from this said businessman as “kickback”. On this particular matter, our Coalition and its allied forces promise to fight tooth and nail to resist any attempt to sell off government properties that have served the region very well and continue to be relevant to the region.”
They are therefore calling on the president to act on the allegations against the Bono Regional Minister to help him [the President] at least clear the “Chief Corruption Clearing Agent” tag on him at least in the Bono Region.
“Mr. President, the tag around your neck “Chief Corruption Clearing Agent” cannot be seen to be at play everywhere including our decent Bono Region and with its chiefs and people very resolute and poised for development. No wonder the Bono Region is bereft of development and progress ever since your incompetent appointee Hon. Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson took office as MCE for Sunyani municipality in 2017 and shockingly rising to be the Bono Regional minister.”
Read the full statement:
COALITION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
PRESS RELEASE
Issued on Wednesday 16th September 2020
PRESIDENT AKUFFO ADDO CAN’T ASK TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES TO HELP HIM FIGHT CORRUPTION WHILE HIS OWN BONO REGIONAL MINISTER IS AN EPITOME OF CORRUPTION AND STILL REMAINS IN OFFICE
President Akuffo Addo last week came to the Bono region as part of his working visit and campaign towards the 2020 general elections and as part of his engagements, he met the traditional authorities and appealed to them to partner with him and his government in fighting corruption. We find this call by the president to be very hypocritical and surprising because sitting at his immediate right was the non-performing, clueless and corrupt Bono Regional minister who he (Mr. President) has failed to deal with despite glaring evidence of several corruption acts that has engulfed his own Bono Regional minister Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson.
Is Mr. President telling the chiefs and good people of Bono Region that he is not aware of the 2018 Auditor General’s report that indicted his own minister and asked her to refund several thousands of Ghana Cedis which she (Bono Regional minister) took illegally back into the coffers of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly during her days as MCE for Sunyani?
Mr. President, for the people of Bono Region to truly believe in you in and your fight against corruption, you need to call your own Bono Regional minister and find out the answers to these questions in addition to his indictment in the 2018 Auditor General’s Report…
- Is it true or otherwise that the Bono Regional Minister took 400,000 cedis from the contractor in charge of the secondary city project in the Sunyani municipality which is stalling the progress of work ?
- Is it true or otherwise that, the Bono Regional minister levied all the Assemblies in the region to the tune of 10,000 Ghana cedis each ahead of the president’s visit and yet everywhere he (Mr. President) goes the Assemblies still foots the Bills?
- Is it true or otherwise that the minister levied all the Assemblies 12,000 cedis to procure motorcycles and where the said motorcycles are?
- Is it true or otherwise that Bono Regional minister levied every Assembly 2,000 Ghana cedis for monitoring during the voter registration exercise?
- It is true or otherwise that, the Bono Regional minister took Eighty thousand Ghana cedis(¢80,000) from the Regional Co-ordinating Council to have an end of year party for 2019?
Again, credible sources we have gathered has it that, the Bono Regional minister has already made plans to liaise with the Lands Commission to sell off the bungalows opposite the prisons service and its related land to a businessman in Sunyani (name withheld) at a fee that is almost equal to a free gift while the minister herself will take a huge sum of money from this said businessman as “kickback”. On this particular matter, our Coalition and its allied forces promise to fight tooth and nail to resist any attempt to sell off government properties that have served the region very well and continue to be relevant to the region.
One major concern that is very worrying is the continuous silence of the member of parliament for Sunyani East Hon. Kwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh who was seen to be very vociferous on matters pertaining to the growth and development of Sunyani and the Region at large during the era of the erstwhile NDC government. Why has he (MP) suddenly become so quiet and not bothered by the actions of his own Minister? Can we, therefore, conclude that the Member of parliament is condoning these bad acts or conniving with the Regional minister? The Member of Parliament for Sunyani East should come out boldly and speak to clear his name as his seat, mandate and pending election too is under strict scrutiny and we are poised to punish him come December 7.
Mr. President, these questions and others are seriously begging for answers because the fight against corruption cannot be a lips service but a holistic, honest, non-partisan, pragmatic and a very serious effort is needed in combating the menace that has the tendency of eroding our gains as a country and suppressing our socio-economic development as a people.
Mr. President, with the greatest of respect to you and your office, we would beg to say that, you can’t have such a corrupt Minister who is paid by our taxes and is supposed to work for our good and interest act in this irresponsible and clueless manner while hypocritically the powers that be sit unconcerned.
Mr. President, the tag around your neck “Chief Corruption Clearing Agent” cannot be seen to be at play everywhere including our decent Bono Region and with its chiefs and people very resolute and poised for development. No wonder the Bono Region is bereft of development and progress ever since your incompetent appointee Hon.Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson took office as MCE for Sunyani municipality in 2017 and shockingly rising to be the Bono Regional minister.
Mr. President, the sooner you act, the better for you and your government in at least leaving one legacy in the fight against corruption and corrupt appointees.
Francis Atta Kusi
Convenor, Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability
0208397509
Antwi Agyei Vincent
Spokesperson, Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability
0209960437
Cc:
The Chief of Staff
Office of the president
Jubilee House
Accra
The minister
Local government & Rural Devt
Accra
All media houses
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com