The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday, 11 June, met over 40 local contractors and business concerns at the Yaa Asantewaa House at the Residency and managed to extort various sums of monies from them to fund the party.

In the end, the party succeeded in extorting over c50 million at the Special Fund Raising ceremony under the patronage of the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs. Joana Appiah Dwemoh, Party Chairman, Mr. P.E.K. Antwi and the Regional Secretary Obiri Danso.

An average of c1 million was donated by each invitee. The least amount of c200,000 as announced by the master of ceremonies, Mr Kwame Nkrumah of the Secretariat, was donated by Mr. Sarpong, Director of the State Housing Corporation as his personal contribution towards whatever cause prompted by the special appeal for funds. Mr. Sarpong was not present at the meeting and might have channelled his contribution through a messenger.

Inside sources confided in the CHRONICLE that the proceeds from the "Special Appeal for Funds" would be used to replenish the depleted funds (about c10 million) raised during an open fund-raising activity in November last year at the City Hotel.