A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, O B Amoah, has denied reports that each of the 26 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern Region has been asked to pay GHS5000 to cater for the President’s visit to the region.

A letter purported to be from the Northern Regional Coordinating Council has directed the 26 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to contribute GHS5,000 each to help fund a three-day tour of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in that part of the country.

The letter giving the directive is dated Friday, September 29 and signed by Chief Director, Alhassan Issahaku.

It gave the assemblies up to Monday, 2 October to bring their contributions.

The letter explained that the contributions are being taken to put together the required arrangements for a successful tour of the President from October 6 to 8, 2017.

“Each assembly is required to contribute an amount of five thousand Ghana cedis (GHC5,000) payable by Monday, 2nd October, 2017,” the letter said.

But speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Monday, October 2 Mr Amoah said: “The Local Government Ministry did not sanction that letter requesting the assemblies to pay any money for the President’s visit, the Regional Minister has also said he did not sanction that letter.

“All the districts also say they haven’t received any such directive and that this letter is just being circulated on the social media.”

He added: “It will not happen. They are not going to pay anything because that is not the practice.”