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Obuasi MCE denies embezzling disability funds

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Obuasi, Mr Elijah Adansi Bonah, has denied accusations that he embezzled monies meant for Persons with Disability in the area.

Date Created : 2/7/2019 7:38:03 AM : Story Author : Theresa Workartey/Ghanadistrict.com

Contrary to the said accusations, the MCE however, revealed that the assembly had already disbursed 60 items being first batch to members of the disability association in August, 2018 barely seven months ago. These include 14 members from the Obuasi Municipal and 17 from now Obuasi East district with additional 3 members from Adansi North and 1 from Amansie Central.

However, new applications have been received and being processed for distribution in due course.

According to him, the complainant, who is from Obuasi East, should have directed his request to the Obuasi East district and not Obuasi Municipal, adding it was through compassion that all of them were considered.

The MCE also disclosed that per the new directive, money should not be handed over to beneficiaries, but about 79 of the new applicants are demanding cash instead of items and that is posing a challenge to them as to how to handle the issue.

He claimed that the allegation was masterminded by people who want him out of office as MCE, insisting that he was not perturbed by such baseless allegation from his political detractors.

The Obuasi Disability Association had earlier accused the MCE and the Assembly of deliberately delaying payment of their 3% share of the district assemblies’ common fund, a move the group said has resulted in sending five of its members to their early graves.

Secretary to the group, Mr Ernest Awuah said:

“The municipal assembly of Obuasi has delayed our common fund for one year now and as a result of this incident, five members of the association has met their untimely death due to inadequate finance to seek medical assistance. May the souls of our five members rest in perfect peace”

“Secondly, the Obuasi Disabilities Association has a number of 600 people but the M.C.E shared refrigerator amongst thirty-five people and paid another thirty-five students of the Association their fees leaving the rest unattended which takes higher percentage of the total number.

The saddest part of the story was that; one of our members died before his family received the refrigerator from the Assembly”

The MCE, who was Speaking in an interview with Ghanadistricts.com, bluntly rubbished the allegation insisting that the assembly had already distributed first batch of the items.

He therefore, urged persons who are yet to receive their items to remain calm since the assembly is seriously working around the clock to commence distribution of the second batch.

The MCE also ceased the opportunity to reiterate the government’s commitment to empower and support PWDs to be self-reliant.

He said it was in light of this that the President upon assumption of office, directed for the increment of the 2% of the Common Fund allocated to the people with disability to 3%.