Tension is gradually brewing in about 150 communities in Buipe, a fishing community in the Central Gonja District of the Northern region, following the distribution of over thousands solar lamps released by the ministry of energy to be freely distributed to residents in the district.
Information gathered from the district and its surrounding communities has it that residents including chiefs are bracing up against the Presiding Member (PM) for the area, Mr. Frank Agbozo, and the Yapei Kusawge National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretary, George Dowokpor, who are believed to be selling the solar lamps to residents even though they (the lamps) are to be distributed for free.
According to our information, Messrs Agbozo and Dowokpor are selling the lamps to the people at a cost of GH�30.00 for one, with the explanation that they were expected to buy the lamp at GH�130.00.
Today established that to cushion the residents, deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. John Jinapor, and the energy ministry resolved to each bear GH�50 respectively out of the original price- GH�150 which meant that residents were only to pay GH�30 for a lamp.
And in ensuring that residents pay the remaining cost of GH�30.00, Mr. Agbozo and Mr. Dowokpor, Today learnt, passed it on to the beneficiaries, who are rising against them and accusing them of extortion.
According to the residents, they are fully aware that the lamps are to be distributed to them at no cost, and that the decision by the two to take GH�30.00 from them is an act of �insensitivity and wickedness.�
This further paper gathered that though the distribution which begun in the first week of April, ended on May 7, 2014, majority of the residents were not happy with the process.
And it was against this background that they are calling on government to institute a committee of enquiry into the issue.
This when done, they asserted, will help avert any bloodshed.
However, in an interview with the PM, Mr. Agbozo, he confirmed collecting GH�30.00 from each beneficiary, but explained that that was to take care of transportation.
He also disclosed that so far only 500 lamps had been brought for distribution and that due to transportation challenges, they have communicated to beneficiaries about the need to pay the said amount so as to fast-track the acquisition of the next batch of lamps.
He also alleged that some beneficiaries, who have already had their share of the lamps, have been selling them at GH�150.00 each.
That action, Mr. Agbozo pointed out, will not help, and therefore asked them to desist from it.
He also indicated that the payment of the said amount was necessary and that residents should see reason with it.
Mr. Agbozo therefore used the opportunity to appeal to residents, especially fishermen, to look for alternative source of livelihoods, since, according to him, fishing was no more lucrative.
He also advised them to send their wards to school to give them brighter future, and stop depending on promises made by politicians.
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