Bolgatanga, Dec. 24, GNA - Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has described as malicious, a publication in the December 5, 2003 issue of the "Ghanaian Chronicle" captioned "Bolga DCE in Trouble".

The said publication alleged that the MCE misappropriated 50 million cedis while he was Registrar of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs around 1999.

The money in question was provided by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in June 1999 for the refurbishment of the offices of the Regional House of Chiefs and the renovation of a Guesthouse belonging to that outfit.

In a reaction to the news item addressed to President J.A. Kufuor through the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, and copied to the Editor of Ghanaian Chronicle, Mr Bukari stated that the publication was calculated at tarnishing his image as a person, as well as the Office he currently occupies.

He indicated that this was not the first time this particular allegation had come up, as he had earlier been contacted some time in 2002 by the Serious Fraud Office to answer questions on the same matter. "The Serious Fraud Office consequently conducted investigations at my former office in respect of the use of the said 50 million cedis and nothing incriminating was found against me," the MCE declared.