DCE Blows GHC85, 000 On Hampers

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Banda District, Mr Alex Bonsu, has been accused of spending GH₵85,000 on hampers during last Christmas, in total disregard for President John Dramani Mahama�s directive to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MMDAs) to desist from using public resources for Christmas and New Year gifts such as hampers. A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Banda in the Banda District of the Brong Ahafo Region made the allegation at a press conference at Banda Ahenkro.' They consequently issued a one-week ultimatum to President John Mahama to sack the DCE for misappropriation of funds meant for development. When The Finder contacted Mr Bonsu on phone for his reaction, he declined to comment. According to the group, barely two years after the inauguration of the district, the administration under Alex Bonsu owes its creditors over GH₵800,000, without any commensurate development. The Banda Police did not allow the youth to stage a massive demonstration against the DCE�s alleged financial indiscipline, thus necessitating a press conference. Secretary to the Concerned Youth, Emmanuel Sienyo accused Mr Bonsu of inflating various project sums whilst most of the projects do not meet the appropriate standards. He catalogued the drilling of boreholes, construction of staff bungalows, as well as construction of access roads as some of the projects whose sums have been inflated. �We the youth call some of the projects undertaken as ghost projects. The alleged construction of the road leading to the residence of the DCE at a cost of GH₵9,500, naming of Banda street costs GH₵9,330 � but no street in Banda has been named,� they alleged. They said the DCE also drilled and mechanised four boreholes, each costing GH₵27,000; in spite of the fact that the boreholes are not functioning. The group also alleged that the DCE has succeeded in extorting GH₵27,000 from illegal miners at Dokokyina near the Bui Hydro Dam to allow them do their mining, despite an action taken by the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to eject them. The Concerned Youth, therefore, called on President John Mahama to take the necessary steps, including prosecution, in order to recoup the money.