Minister Debunks Claims

THE CENTRAL Regional branch of the Ghana @ 50 Secretariat has claimed responsibility for the renovation of the Cape Coast District Police Office believed to be a philanthropist gesture by one Joseph Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer of Vicandy Company Limited, the major distributors of cigarettes in the Region.

This was revealed to The Chronicle by a close source last week in Cape Coast.

According to the source, the Secretariat claimed it was responsible for the renovation of the dilapidated Police station from tiling of the cells, to painting and restructuring of the charge office and putting up a manhole and bathrooms which is estimated at millions of cedis.

In an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Joseph Anderson said he single handedly undertook the project, which was done early last year before the Secretariat was established. He claimed he felt disturbed by the prison conditions and decided to help.

He indicated that the Central Regional Minster, Nana Ato Arthur offered to contribute ¢20,000,000 but he refused the offer because he wanted to do the work alone.

When contacted on Wednesday on his cellular phone, Ato Arthur set the record straight that the Secretariat did not contribute anything to the rehabilitation of the ancient Police station.

A Police Officer, Achana of the District Police Station also confirmed the Minister's assertion that rehabilitation works at the cells were done by Joseph Anderson, stressing that he had receipts to prove his claim.