Takoradi Feb.28, GNA- A circuit court "A" in Takoradi on Tuesday remanded Joseph Yaw Baidoo, Assemblyman for the Mpaniasa Bosomrom, Himakrom Electoral Area, for allegedly stealing 75 bags of cement and 30 pieces of iron rod meant for a day care centre project, at Himakrom in the Ahanta West District.

The accused who pleaded not guilty will re-appear on March 9, 2007. Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor told the court that in July 2004, Mr. Samuel Jonfiah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahanta West, allocated 80 bags of cement and 30 pieces of iron rod to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for the completion of a World Vision day care centre project that was abandoned.

He said the accused informed the Chairmen of the Mpaniasa, Bosomrom and Himakrom Unit Committees about the allocation of the building materials. Chief Insp. Hedidor said the accused collected 100,000 cedis from the Unit Committee Chairman of Bosomrom for the transportation of the materials from Agona Nkwanta to Mpaniasa.

He said the accused supplied only five bags of cement for the project and used the remaining 75 bags of the material and 30 pieces of iron rods for his personal work.

Chief Insp. Hedidor said in August 2006, the Building Committee of Mpaniasa, Bosorom and Himakrom after consultation with the accused appealed to the District Assembly to take over the project because the people were no longer supporting it with communal labour. He said the District Directorate of the GES asked the accused to return the 75 bags of cement and the 30 pieces of iron rod for re-allocation to other schools but he refused to return the materials, saying the MP gave the materials to him.