Deputy Information Minister Pius Enam Hadzide has disputed claims that some 400 tricycles belonging to the Northern Development Authority (NDA) were stolen or went missing, stating that they were rather sold to deserving beneficiaries by the NDA.

Mr Hadzide told Accra-based Citi FM that poor internal accounting processes and communication may have led to the sacked Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDA to the wrong conclusion that the tricycles had gone missing causing the controversy.

“These tricycles were sold to beneficiaries within the five Northern Regions. It is possible that the internal communication and accounting processes at the Authority may have been faulty and information may not have been readily made available to some of the senior officials. But the information which is out at the moment is that these tricycles were sold; some on hire purchase arrangements,” he disclosed.

The missing tricycles controversy began when Dr Majeed Haroun, the former CEO of the NDA notified the police that some 400 tricycles had gone missing from the premises of the NDA.

Northern Regional Minister who was also oblivious of happening at the authority after being fingered as the one who sanctioned the conveying of the tricycles directed the Ghana Police Service to go after persons who were purported to have stolen some 400 tricycles.

Salifu Sa-eed who denied authorizing the carting of the items as was claimed in a letter to the police by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Alhaji Abdel-Majeed Haroun, disclosed in a statement copied to the media that “I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that, I did not direct anyone or group of persons or company to pick any item from the premises of the NDA yard in my name or the Northern Regional Coordinating Council. For the records, I was the same person who ensured the protection of said items upon my appointment until the appointment of the CEO of NDA”