By Frank Amponsah
Concerned NPP Youth in Asuogyaman have waded into the recent attacks on the DCE, Hon. Samuel Kwame Agyekum and said the objective of his attackers was to smear him with so much mud and stir public anger against him in a manner that would lead to his removal from office.
The DCE for the past few days, faced massive and ugly social media and mainstream media campaign by five people including: the Coordinator of Asuogyaman FM, Nana Kwame Wontumi, the Presiding Member of the Asuogyaman District Assembly Mr. Jonathan Hagan, the Akwamufie Assemblyman, Stephen Adu Acquah, the former District Finance Officer, Bismark Okra who was recently transferred from the District and the YEA Coordinator at Asuogyaman Marvin Akonor.
The group could not understand why these same people have petitioned EOCO about a month ago to investigate the allegations against the DCE when they themselves have admitted petitioning the president to remove him from office.
They stated at a press conference that, “… now they are running helter-skelter demonizing the DCE and seeking to crucify him on the altar of a distorted public opinion.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, while we do not intend to undermine the authority of EOCO in its investigations into the substantive though baseless allegations, is important to address some of the falsehood being peddled against the DCE.”
Putting some facts on the table, the group stated that the allegation that the DCE transferred the District Finance Officer, Bismark Okra from the district because he was preventing the DCE from embezzling funds, was baseless.
They averred that facts surrounding Mr. Okra rather point to the contrary.
“This person was posted to Asuogyaman District on 27th April 2018. He first proposed to the District Coordinating Director (DCD) to team up together with him and register a company so that they would bid for contracts using that company. The DCD rejected that proposal and reported him to the DCE. Secondly the District Financial Officer (DFO) proposed to print receipt books which was different from the standard one approved by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for collection of property rates. This was also rejected by the DCD and the DCE.”
The Concerned youth also mentioned that, the DFO went ahead to print his own receipt books and available evidence indicate that he was defrauding the Assembly with it and when the DCE decided to take action against him, the Presiding Member tried to prevent him from doing so by calling the Regional Coordinating Director to decline any support for the DCE to discipline Mr. Okra.
On the issues of allegations of corruption against the DCE, the group expressed doubts and stated that “We also have no doubt that the allegations are completely baseless and false, because due process was followed. However, we prefer to leave them for EOCO to complete their investigations and tell the whole world about their findings.”
They also mentioned that the main agenda of the agitators clearly comes as a replay of history since in 2004, the DCE at the time Dr Siaw was doing his work with merit until Mr. Kofi Osei Ameyaw emerged on the scene to contest the MP seat but the DCE who had earlier declared his intention to contest the seat was seen as a threat and immediately became the victim of a vicious media and public campaign of lies with baseless allegations of corruption that eventually destroyed the aspirations of Dr. Siaw.
“Today history is repeating itself with Mr. Agyekum as the victim. Realizing the fact that his popularity had virtually reduced to zero in Asuogyaman, Mr.Kofi Osei Ameyaw is on warpath against his own party in Asuogyaman Constituency believing that the removal of the DCE who is seen as being too close to some of the possible contestants would brighten his chances. At this point, permit us to tell you the background of those leading the anti DCE campaign for more clarity.”
The group condemned the five persons who are leading the onslaught against the DCE and trying to get the Assembly to pass vote of no confidence in the DCE but that could also not win the support of the Assembly men.
“Now they are also using some Assemblymen to demonize the DCE in the media with the hope that it will make him unpopular in the eyes of the highest level of government and get him removed from office.”
It said the YEA Coordinator at Asuogyaman, Mr. Marvin Akonor has also waded into the controversy recently granting media interviews and calling for the removal of the DCE.
The group however described him as a known darling boy and campaigner of Hon. Osei Ameyaw who has served his intention to use the YEA in Asuogyaman to undertake National Lotteries programs.
The youth group called on all to disregard such vile attacks on the DCE and allow him to work and deliver the best for the district.
