...There is no missing Land Cruiser

The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council has rebuffed allegations against the
former Minister for the Region, Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, which sought to
tarnish his image. A publication carried by the Daily Searchlight reported of
tension brewing in the region over the disappearance of a Land Cruiser belonging
to the Coordinating Council.

The Council has however challenged the said Daily Searchlight publication as
contained in a rejoinder below:

REJOINDER

TENSION AT E/R OVER MISSING LAND CRUISER

I write in reaction to your publication on Wednesday, 9th February, 2011 with
the caption “Tension At E/R over Missing Land Cruiser” which sought to tarnish
the hard earned reputation of the former Regional Minister, Hon. Samuel Ofosu
Ampofo.
In the publication, you indicated that tension was brewing in the Eastern
Regional Co-ordinating Council over the disappearance of Land Cruiser No. UE 550
X belonging to the Council.
The Council wants to state emphatically that the story is false and unwarranted
as the vehicle has never been missing. The said vehicle actually developed a
major engine fault and had been parked within the premises of the ERCC until
recently when a home used engine was bought for it.

If workers of the ERCC have confirmed that the Car developed a fault and was
sent to a mechanic for repairs as you stated, then it presupposes that they know
where it is and therefore not gone missing since a particular Mechanic can be
held responsible.

The ERCC has the option to choose which Mechanic works on its vehicles and
Management is at a lost as to the allegation that the former Minister sent it to
a repairer of his choice who is not considered to be our regular Mechanic.
Here, it must be emphasized that no mechanic has monopoly over the repairs of
vehicles belonging to the Regional Co-ordinating Council.

The Land Cruiser which was sent for repairs on Monday, 24th January, 2011 was
returned on Tuesday, 8th February 2011 and is with the Council.

Also, the Council would want to state that the former Minister did not take a
Computer and chair along with him to his new office in Accra.
Management would therefore want to register its displeasure and disappointment
for the simple fact that you carried out this publication without seeking
clarification from the Regional Co-ordinating Council as there would have been
no need for it if due diligence was made in investigating the issues involved.
Accordingly, in line with the ethics of the profession, the ERCC is demanding
that the publication be retracted and unconditional apology rendered to the
former Regional Minister and the Regional Co-ordinating Council.


REGIONAL
CO-ORD. DIRECTOR

(S.A. BAWA)