Ho, Sept 3, GNA - Traditional Authorities at Akatsi in the Volta Region are demanding the withdrawal of Environmental Health Officers with effect from September 30 2003 for gross abuse of office and corruption. They would be treated as marauders if they entered any house for inspection, a statement said on Tuesday.

The statement that was signed by seven people including chiefs and elders asked for the replacement of the officers with others who are "committed and will adhere to the government's laudable policy of 'zero tolerance for corruption".

It said following complaints to the Regional Environmental Officer about the gross abuse of office and blatant corruption of the his staff at Akatsi the Regional Officer agreed to meet the community on August 25 to iron out their differences.

While the Chiefs and people waited at the community's durbar grounds the Regional Officer came and transacted other businesses and left.

"The Chiefs and people of Akatsi then met on August 29 and resolved that the work of Environmental Officers in Akatsi should be suspended with immediate effect," the statement said.

Mr Albert Kpodonu, Volta Regional Environmental Officer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday that he accepted to meet the chiefs and people of the area and specifically those who made the charges of corruption against his men during 'phone in' in connection with a weekly Environmental Programme on the Volta Star Radio.

He said on the appointed day he went with a team made up of Mr John Bosco Kotah, Vice-Principal of the Ho School of Hygiene, John Ametepe, Port Health Officer and a Member of the Akatsi District Assembly and Mr Fabien Amkpah, Ho District Environmental Health Officer and Mr Anane Gbadago host of the programme and concluded investigations into the allegations.

He produced a copy of correspondence to the Akatsi District Assembly dated August 26 to the GNA recommending the transfer of some officers as well as appointing a substantive head to streamline affairs at the Akatsi Office.

The letter also appealed to the District Assembly to educate people living in the community to refrain from offering bribes to Environmental Officers on inspection.

Mr Kpodonu said it was not prudent to withdraw all staff at the Akatsi Office and replace them with new ones who are not readily available. He said he had not agreed to meet the Chiefs and people at the durbar grounds as being alleged but rather invited them to the District Assembly to identify those they accused of demanding bribes. Mr Kpodonu said Akatsi, which failed to take part in the Regional Cleanliness Campaign Competitions in 2001 and 2002, is a problematic area for the department.

He recalled that in 1983 and 1995 similar mass withdrawals were made following requests from the chiefs of the town but that did not bring about any positive change in environmental management in many households in the town.

Mr Kpodonu said complaints about Environmental Officers in the districts should first be addressed to district assemblies. 02 Sept. 03