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Fresh from his reported troubles with his estranged before he was shown the exit from post as the Deputy Minister of Defence last year, the dust has started rising around the scandal-prone Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Ebenezer Okletey Tei Larbi, 52, for alleged role in a military recruitment scam that has become the topic for radio discussions in his constituency.

The story, which has captured the attention of local radio discussants and stations in the Eastern region, is thatOkletey Tei Larbi, when he was the Deputy Minister of Defence allegedly commandeered his right hand man, now the constituency chairman for National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the area, David Walter, to recruit young men at the fee, ranging between GH¢2000 and GH¢3000 to be enlisted in the Ghana Armed Forces.

“David gave us a piece of A4 sheet to write down our names and after we did, I for instance didn’t have money, so I wanted to give him my tablet but he refused and didn’t touch the sheet until I was able to raise GH¢1,500 for him three day after, before he assured me that I would be enlisted but now here am I, they didn’t even call me to submit my forms”, one of the distraught victims told this paper via telephone yesterday.

 When the deal went bad, as virtually none of Okletey Tei Larbi’s men were enlisted into the army, the about two hundred (200) youth in the constituency are now crying foul and pointing accusing fingers at the MP for giving them false hope and refusing to refund their monies to them.

 One lady (name withheld), sensing danger that her money might not be refunded to her after several assurances from the constituency chairman, last week, reported the matter to the Manya Krobo police, and insiders say, with the speed of thunderbolt, David Walter went and refunded the money to the lady.

Now, the former Lecturer Biochemistry, whom this paper is reliably informed, is lobbying influence peddlers for another appointment at the seat of government might have to convince his god-fathers on why he should be handed another portfolio after the high profile blunder he is accused of.

Just last Tuesday, two more victims of the David Walter and his boss also reported their ordeal to the Manya Krobo police who have now initiated full-scale investigation into the allegation of recruitment scam by the former Deputy Easter Regional Minister.

The Odumase-krobo born MP, who is unfurling his sleeves to contest the primary to lead the NDC in the area again has also, according to the victims refused to meet them in person to tell them how far he had gone with the recruitment assurances. 

But when this paper reached David Walter for his side of the story, the NDC Chair stated that there was no iota of truth in the story and that it was a ploy by a group of people to defame the former minister and himself.

He retorted that “You know we are going for primaries and so I’m not surprised this story is coming out now. Assuming without admitting that the allegations are true, why are the victims raising issues now?”

David Walter admitted that he went to the police station to refund some money to the lady but the issue was unrelated to the alleged Military scam. Attempts to reach the MP for his side of the story proved futile.

It would be recalled that the former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, allegedly dumped rubbish on the wife’s bed in their official Ringway Estates Residence and later locked out Mrs. Terlabi from her matrimonial home to take refuge in a hotel at Osu, in Accra, with no personal belongings.

 Stay tuned, as this paper will in the coming days bring reader to speed to speed on rots going on at the constituency, the attack and counter attacks, and the numerous allegations flying around the MP.