The Eastern regional branch of the National Democratic Congress is accusing the NPP MPs in the region of misusing the district Assemblies common fund.
According to the members of the opposition party, they have sighted on a viral video in which the incumbent member of parliament for the New Juaben South Constituency, Mr. Okyere Baafi, speaks about how he intends to divert the District Assembly Common Fund meant for public good into the private pockets of NPP polling station executives as a loyalty reward package.
This was captured in a statement signed by Comrade Kojo Danquah, Eastern Regional Communications Officer.
Read Full Statement below
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS(NDC)
EASTERN REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, 11.7.23
MISUSE OF DISTRICT ASSEMBLY COMMON FUNDS BY NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN THE EASTERN REGION
The National Democratic Congress, NDC, in the Eastern Region has taken notice of a video in circulation that has captured Mr. Okyere Baafi, the Hon. Member of Parliament for the New Juaben South Constituency speaking about how he intends to divert the District Assembly Common Fund meant for public good into the private pockets of NPP polling station executives as a loyalty reward package.
He reveals that the illicit strategy to achieve this end goal is to siphon the money to these NPP executives in the name of education support for their wards.
It is revealing that this nation wrecking practice and corrupt activity does not pertain only to the New Juaben South Constituency.
This has become a perverse phenomenon that is already being executed by other New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament in the Eastern Region.
As a responsible political party, we, the NDC, detest this partisan and discriminatory act being exhibited by the Akufo Addo-Bawumia Government and their respective Members of Parliament in the utilisation of the District Assembly Common Fund.
Public funds are meant to serve the entire citizenry without discrimination.
The wanton distribution of public funds for the private benefit of polling station executives of the NPP is in clear violation of the spirit and letter of Article 252 of the 1992 constitution that set up the fund.
It is therefore not surprising that the constituencies of these NPP Members of Parliament are currently experiencing serious infrastructure deficits in the areas of health care,water, sanitation, dilapidated roads and education ; amid rising concerns about the worsening phenomenon of schools-under-trees.
Furthermore, some of these shameless NPP Members of Parliament have used this important public fund for political activities such as NPP social gatherings, parties, and stipends for polling station executives of the New Patriotic Party.
In the interest of the respective constituents of these misguided Members of Parliament and the larger quest for national development,
We are sounding a caution that the perpetrators of these act must desist henceforth from this detestable discriminatory practices..
We urge that these funds be channelled into developmental projects to alleviate the sufferings of the Ghanaian people.
Indeed, as the Akans say, if you don’t get anything for your in-law, you don’t steal from him/her.
We wish to further urge the public to hold the feet of these Members of Parliament to the fire of accountability and vote them out at the polls come December 7th 2024.
Comrade Kojo Danquah
Eastern Regional Communications Officer
