I Haven't Diverted Public Items For  Personal Use! --Bibiani MCE Clears The Air

MUNICIPAL CHIEF Executive (MCE) for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the Western North Region, Mr Paul Andoh, has  stated that he has not diverted items or goods meant for the Assembly to be distributed to some specific residents and farmers in the various villages and towns within the municipality for his personal use

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The MCE urged the general public, particularly the residents of the area to disregard the so-called group calling itself Concerned Citizens of Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai's spurious claim that he [Mr Paul Andoh] diverted public items to his private residence at Sefwi Bekwai.

He stressed that the recent publication by the group in which publication said that the group has alarmed over the disturbing reports of intimidation faced by whistleblowers who courageously exposed the alleged diversion of public items to the private residence of Mr Andoh is false and an attempt to throw dust into the eyes of the public. 

He stated categorically that, the items were offloaded at my premises when we could not reached where we agreed to offload at initial or proposed place due to the car challenge and the owner willingness to take the car on the said date."

"But there was no caused of alarm and that these items were dully received by the Assembly which are yet to be distributed to the beneficiaries, "the stressed. 

In that report the group noted that the interrogations and arrest of a worker at the Regional Coordinating Council who is perceived to have disclosed information about the distribution of items to the various assemblies within the region, and subsequently taking him to his hometown to confiscate his phone for information assessment without a proper warrant is alarming. 

Given the conflicting statements between the Municipal Chief Executive, and the Municipal Coordinating Director on radio interviewed regarding the whereabouts of the diverted public items, they stressed that it becomes even more crucial for the Regional Minister and the Regional Coordinating Director to be interested in ascertaining the truth behind these claims as contained in the petition submitted to him (the Regional Minister ) on Friday, August 18, 2023, at Bibiani. 

They noted that the the apparent lack of clarity and transparency regarding the whereabouts of these items meant for the Bibiani Municipal Assembly raises legitimate concerns about accountability and responsible governance.

However in a quick rebuttal to set the record straight on the publication which went viral on the social media platform, the MCE stressed that there was not missing items in the area as being claimed in the recent publication by the group.

He accused his own party members–New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Constituency Chairman, Mr
Kwame Asamoah, popularly known as Agege for masterminding these unsubstantial and cooked allegations against him, ostensibly to defame him in the public to achieve their political score.

According to the MCE, when the allegations of the news of the missing items has broken out, Mr Asamoah who doubles as the Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly has quickly granted an interview with an local radio station in the area, wrongly criticizing him of deverting the items, without even cross-checking from him.

He noted that Mr Asamoah has been an ardent critic of him, stressing that the constituency chairman has been working against him since he assumed office because he was interested in the MCE position.

He pointed out that he comes from Sefwi Bekwai and that currently he is staying at the private rented house at Bibiani township.

Unfortunately, the current MCE indicated that "the official residential bungalow for the MCE was in very bad state, the development which has compiled the Assembly to temperarily rent a private residential bungalow for him at  Bibiani township to stay since he assumed office."

According to the MCE, the assembly was having associated stores at MCE bungalow of which the public items can be kept.

Additionally, he pointed out that aside this the Assembly has another separate store which was located at Bibiani Mota, saying that "this is where normally the various materials, goods or items of the Assembly were officially being kept.

"So when l am staying now there is no associated store within the premises, so is like when we are about to go for these items in the Western Regional Coordinate Council to be distributed to the beneficiary residents, the Municipal Coordinator Director of the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwa Municipal Assembly, Store Keeper of the Assembly have agreed that the  the items to be taken to the convenge point–such as the Subiri Nkwanta. 

"However, the sense of keeping the items at the Subiri Nkwanta converging point was primarily based to ensure easy distribution," the MCE stated.

He indicated that we have ensure the proximity from Bibiani, Anhwiaso and Bekwa because we have three paramancies and that we thought otherwise that, keeping the items at Subiri Nkwanta which likely to be in middle of the municipality, would be easier for their distribution to the beneficially residents," the MCE further emphasized.

He stressed that there are no criminal perception of keeping the items at Subiri Nkwanta, explaining that top or front lines of the assembly were aware of offloaded place.

He accused his own party members–New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Constituency Chairman, Mr
Kwame Asamoah, popularly known Agege for masterminding this evil plot of peddling these unsubstantial and cooked allegations against him, ostensibly to defame him in the public to achieve their political score.

According to the MCE, when the allegations of the news of the missing items has broken out, Mr Asamoah who doubles as the Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly has quickly granted an interview with an local radio station in the area, wrongly criticizing him of deverting the items, without even cross-checking from him.

"When they were contesting me in the MCE position and after my confirmation, the presiding member proceeded to EC officer in Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai to ascertain the result of the confirmation. But he failed to push his agenda," the MCE revealed.

He noted that Mr Asamoah has been an ardent critic of him, stressing that the constituency chairman has been working against him since he assumed office because he was interested in the MCE position.

The MCE further issued a strong word of caution to the general public to desist from giving the listening ears to the trouble makers in the area and rather come together to join forces of him to work hard to bring the needed developmental projects and programmes to the area.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the press statement on the issue has cleared the air that the MCE has not made any attempt to divert the items from the Western North Regional Coordinating Council to his private residence at Sefwi Bekwai.

The Assembly in the statement signed by its Coordinating Director, Mr Joseph K. Baah-Darkoh corroborated with the explanation made by the MCE regarding this matter, stating that:" We wish to use the medium to state that the items in question were dully received Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly on August 15, 2023, and since been shared for later distribution.

The Assembly in its statement said it is therefore curious to note that the MCE is alleged to have appropriated these items for his personal usage.

The Assembly emphasized that the MCE never attempted or nor diverted the items under the consideration since the items were dully received from the the Western Regional Coordinating Council.

The Assembly pointed out that the items so received are properly kept under the Assembly's supervision and are available for inspection for legitimate petsons or group of person who wish to satisfy for their curiosity.

The Assembly highlighted the items received from the Western North Regional Coordinating Council to support the claim that it indeed it has received the items..