NDC Members in the Agona-West Constituency of the Central Region have accused their Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, for collecting ¢220 million and a piece of Kente cloth to influence the appointment of one Mr. Jacob Obeng Forson as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Agona-West Municipal Assembly.

Speaking on some Accra-based radio stations, the leader of the Agona-West group of the NDC members and the Constituency Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Kwesi Dawood, noted that they do not have any trust and confidence in the regional minister, Madam Amma Benyiwa Doe. They have also petitioned President John Evans Atta Mills to sack the MCE, Mr. Jacob Obeng Forson.

According to the group, Madam Benyiwa Doe has a hand in the MCEs conduct since the minister has failed to act on the several complaints made to her about his corrupt practices. This has compared the constituency propaganda secretary, Kwesi Dawood, to state that, “we here have reason to believe same because this is about the fourth time we are raising this issue. The last time we met the regional minister at her office was on 2nd November 2009”.

The Constituency Propaganda Secretary noted that Madam Benyiwa Doe, the MCE and their cohorts instead of paying heed to their concerns have rather resorted to acts of vindictiveness against him and his other colleagues.

What infuriates him the most is that the Regional minister, Amma Benyiwa Doe had referred to him and his other colleagues as hungry people.

Madam Benyiwa Doe has however denied Mr. Dawood’s allegation, stating that she has not received any such money from Mr. Obeng Forson as suggested. Madam Benyiwa, Speaking on the radio station, noted that Mr. Dawood and his colleagues are only out to cause mischief and drag her good name through the mud, further describing them as hungry people.

The MCE on his part described the allegations as substance less, “it is all lies”, he shot back to Joy Fm yesterday when asked for his reaction.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dawood and two-thirds of NDC Agona-West Constituency executives have petitioned President Mills and the leadership of the ruling party, citing the MCE for multiple complicity in abuse of office, conflict of interest, corruption and violating the Public Procurement Law among a host of other severe allegations contrary to the Mills administration’s ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.

In addition, the MCE is said to have made his second oldest son, Neequaye the contractor of the assembly, whilst the third son has been made a city guard who has allegedly been extorting monies from drivers.

Mr. Dawood: “We are saying the MCE has violated our procurement laws, by appointing his wife to be the one in charge of all catering and refreshment services at the assembly without recourse to tender processes”, Mr. Dawood charged.

He alleged Mr. Obeng Forson, the MCE “has an arrangement with the assembly by which he is paid GH¢2, 500 from the proceeds of toilet facilities”. Mr. Dawood quoted portions of the 2008 ‘Better Ghana’ manifesto of NDC which states “corruption thrives in a system that is not transparent or unaccountable and unresponsive to the needs and concern of citizens” to buttress his call.