There is growing tension in the camp of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the National Chairman, Harona Esseku’s inability to account for more than ?300 million. Investigations conducted by the Evening News newspaper indicate that a total of ?504 million was given to Mr Esseku to acquire certain vital materials and for campaigning in the last Bimbilla bye-elections. Mr Esseku allegedly refused to use the money for the purpose for which it was provided, and diverted it for other purposes.

Insiders say the only expenditure which could be said to be true of Esseku’s accounts, so far rendered by the National Chairman is a ?200 million, he gave to the Treasurer of the party for expenses on the Bimbilla election. Sources close to the party said the National Finance Committee of the party had rejected the accounts so far rendered by Mr Esseku and described it as Bogus.

In the accounts rendered, Mr Esseku claimed that he used ?84 million to buy his vehicle and ?40 million to buy two motorbikes for the party’s polling agents. Mr Esseku, according to his accounts, also used ?18 million as part payment for the General Secretary’s Transport bill and another ?10 million given to the Treasurer. Mr Esseku’s accounts also revealed that he paid his driver’s salary of ?450,000 per month from September 2001 to April 2002, all amounting to ?3.6 million.

Again Mr Esseku claimed that he used ? 7 million for fuel and repairs including engine and air conditioning system. The National Chairman in his rejected accounts, said he used a whopping ?40 million for operational expenses while ?50 million is to be retrieved from the owner of the vehicle the party used during the campaign for the bye-election.

According to the accounts, money still available out of the ?504 million for use is ?51.4 million. Angry party officials and members have threatened fire and brimstone that they would advise themselves if the National Executive Council does not make Mr Esseku to properly account for the money.

When contacted, Mr Esseku in an angry mood, wanted to know the source of the information before he would comment. “This is becoming too much. Somebody, one of these days, would go to jail for these nonsense. Tell me the source of the story before I can comment,” he said. Mr Esseku said he has a Finance Committee with which he creates wealth for the smooth administration of the party. “Therefore if you can’t pinpoint anybody from the committee as the one who gave you that information, then my friend, clear off from here.” He noted that he is the head of the party and emphasized that if the source could not be quoted, “then no money has been paid to me”.