Ever since we started our intelligence compilation of newspaper allegations of corruption in August 2003, it has become obvious that the greatest looters of the state treasury and the biggest "choppers" of the peoples' monies in terms of the numbers involved are the NPP District Chief Executives (DCEs)
They are "chopping" the money "waa, waa, waa", without stopping to pinch themselves to remind themselves that they have sworn to resist temptation, and without being called by the President and his Office of Accountability to be advised to avoid falling victim to this ancient canker from the days of Adam, Eve, the serpent and the apple in the Garden of Eden.
The following compilation must make the President sit up and begin to ask himself whether his DCEs can stand up to the test of forensic audits that they subjected the NDC DCEs to, and whether his decision not to act on newspaper allegations of corruption is the best or the wisest.
- Mr Evans Ashong Narh, Municipal Chief Executive for Tema. Awarded inflated fumigation contracts to a high profile NPP official but refused to disclose his identity;
- Mr. Andrews Teye, DCE for Manya Krobo, his District Coordinating Director, District Finance Officer and District Engineer, have been accused of naked bribery, misappropriation of funds, theft, and wilfully causing financial loss to the state of ?7 billion, ?21.7 million of which was used for the visit of Vice President Aliu Mahama, and ?8.9 million of which was used for the visit of First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor;
- The DCE for Akatsi has connived with the NPP Constituency Secretary, Mr. M.Q. Ahiafor, to have the latter execute projects for the running of the NPP in the district;
- Mr. Cadman Luis Koffie, DCE for Ketu has conspired with the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, to divert 4 Yamaha 40 HP outboard motors meant for the Denu Central Association to Ms. Akua Vorde, the girl friend of the Deputy Regional Minister; the two also diverted 15 units of Yamaha 40 HP outboard motors estimated to cost ?62.7 million intended for fishermen in the Ketu and Denu districts
- Mr. Andrews Kwesi Teye, DCE for Manya Krobo, built a 12-seater water closet toilet at a cost of ?240 million, whilst the same toilet at the Kwahu South district was valued at ?140 million;
- Mr. Samuel Nii Anyeteh, DCE for Ga, received ?1 million bribe for helping to release a female businesswoman when she was arrested for illegal gravel winning in his district;
- Dr. (Mrs.) Eugenia Dankwa Smith, DCE for Akwapim North, did not seek the approval of the District tender Board for ten contracts worth ?1 billion but awarded them before informing members of the District Tender Board;
- Mr. Bismark Dari, DCE for East Gonja, corruptly acquired three houses and a flat and a first class communications centre;
- Mr. Johnson Ofori Asubonteng, DCE for Jaman, and his Accounts Officer, Mr. Appiah Adjei, awarded a contract for the construction of a Home Science Block at Kwasibuorkrom worth ?375 million to Messrs Buican Construction Company Ltd. but executed the contract themselves without the knowledge of the contractor;
- Nana Emmanuel Duku, DCE for Dormaa, lured a married woman to have sex with him in return for favours in his capacity as the DCE but could not deliver on his promise and has since paid ?4 million to cover up the sordid act;
- Mr. Andrews Yaw Adu-Nyarko, DCE for Akwapim South and Hon. Seth Wiafe-Dankwa MP, are involved in a bribery and diversion of illegal chain sawn timber whose investigations have been completed by the BNI;
- Alhaji Sulemana Adams Achana, DCE for Bole, as Special Assistant to Alhaji Musa Moctar Bamba MP and former Deputy Minister in the Office of the President was involved in the fraudulent activities of the latter, including a junk-bond visa scam and two Austrian visa frauds;
- Mr. Victor Owusu-Ahinkorah, DCE for Birim North, and Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Amoako, Presiding Member, are involved in offences of abuse of office and allowing chain saw operators and timber merchants to take away timber, which had been impounded by a Task Force;
- Mr. Solomon Kwame Donkor, DCE for Jasikan, awarded 14 contracts worth ?738,122,670.00 without the authority of the District Tender Board, with the excuse that they were election year emergency purchases;
- Mr. Rockson Bukari, DCE for Bolgatanga, is to account for an amount of ?1.6 billion which was meant for renovation works at the Bolgatanga SSS, but which has gone missing;
- Mr. Joe Dankwa, DCE for Wenchi, has been indicted by Parliament for wrongfully awarding contracts for the renovation of his official bungalow without going through the District tender Board or any other procedure.
It will be recalled that since he came to office, President Kufuor has dismissed nine DCEs, including the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Accra, Mr. Solomon Ofei Darko, without assigning any reasons. The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development subsequently announced that four of them were to be redeployed. Nothing has been heard of their redeployment since.
