: Emmanuel Chapman Takyi Kodam and Numo Addinortey Addison
AN ASHAIMAN Pressure Group, Youth For Accountability (YFA) has accused the area’s Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Numo Addinortey Addison of presiding over corruption at the assembly
The YFA says massive corruption at the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) in recent times under Mr. Addison had taken a threatening dimension leading to the stalling of development projects.
At a press conference in Ashaiman, YFA Convener, Emmanuel Chapman Takyi Kodam, said even though there were many instances of corruption which the group is planning to make known later, they were presently focusing on revenue accrued from the management of public toilets in the area.
According to Takyi Kodam, the patronage of public toilets particularly those in urban communities, had increased saying a typical facility in Ashaiman could serve about 400 to 500 people daily.
He said ASHMA had since its inception in 2008 managed the public toilets through a franchise system but since 2009 when the NDC government assumed office, there have taken over a lot militant takeovers from franchise owners by NDC party members in the constituency Â
The group made reference to a recent General Assembly meeting held on April 4 where members of ASHMA demanded accountability from the municipal finance officer regarding monies the assembly had accrued from the NDC officials since they took over the facilities.
YFA said the assembly members were reportedly stunned when the finance officer reported a paltry GH¢7,500 as the amount accrued between 2009 to April 2012.
According to the group, the assembly’s annual budget (2009-2010) was estimated at GH¢50,000, GH¢57,500 for 2011 and GH¢63,250 for 2012.
It claimed that out of an estimated GH¢172,812 expected by the end of March 2012, only GH¢7,500 was accounted for. A total of GH¢165,312 could not be accounted for by the assembly.
Members of the assembly who were infuriated by the discovery   reportedly walked out of the meeting with almost all of them accusing the MCE of conniving with his party members to defraud residents of Ashaiman.
The YFA alleged there were attempts by the assembly at a general assembly meeting in May to declare the huge amount an irrevocable debt without recourse to ACT 462 section 35 of the Local Government ACT 1993 and urged assembly members to ensure that the amount is retrieved.
From Razak Mardorgyz Abubakar, Ashaiman
