The Volta Region Cadres Front of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed dissatisfaction about information being given by the various District Coordinators to the Presidential Commission set up to probe the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat.

They noted that the records, which were tendered in as evidence outlining the mode of expenditure, were not a true reflection of what happened in the region during the celebration.

According to the cadres, many of the Ghana@50 items, including T-shirts, cloths, and other materials were sold to the people of the region, including school children, and that some of the items were still on display in some shops allegedly belonging to activists of the opposition New Patriotic party (NPP) in Ho, and other district capitals for sale.

The angry-looking cadres, who expressed these sentiments at their quarterly review meeting held in Ho recently, said they were finding it very difficult to accept claims made by the district coordinating directors when they appeared before the Commission, arguing that the chiefs and people, as well as school children, never benefited from any free Ghana@50 items, as was being suggested.

The Chairman of the Cadres Front, Mr. Henry Ametefe, who was supported by the regional executives, stressed that polo T-shirts meant for the celebration, were sold between GH¢7 and GH¢8, and challenged anyone to dare him and the Cadres.

Mr. Ametefe alleged that even though there were other officers working under the Regional Minister and district chief executives (DCES), the Ghana@50 items were directly received by them (Regional Minister and DCEs), and no instruction was given to the subordinates, like the District Coordinating Directors (DCDs), accountants and storekeepers, as to how the items ought to have been used.

The Cadres Chairman said the Coordinators could not present substantive records to reflect on activities of the celebration, since the Coordinating Directors knew little about how the items were disposed of to the people, adding that the presentations made by the DCDs came as a surprise to the majority of the people in the region.
Mr. Ametefe accused those who were at the centre of affairs, during the celebration in the region, for keeping the various items, which were meant for the celebration, and later sharing them to churches and selected communities they believed were their political allies.

“My people, let’s not allow them to throw dust into our eyes by peddling falsehood about what never exist in our region.

We shall continue to fight for the truth to be unraveled. We don’t fear them,” he said.

He commended President Evans John Atta Mills for establishing the Commission to investigate the activities of the Ghana@50 Secretariat, but was quick to add that there was the need for the Commission to extend the probe beyond the coordinators to the ordinary people, in order to ascertain the truth on the ground. The Cadres also appealed to the government to establish an independent committee to investigate the death of a police officer, and a civilian at the residency in Ho.

Mr. Ametefe alleged that people living in the residency were currently being haunted by the ghosts of the two dead persons, as they continued pestering them in their dreams, demanding that their killers be brought to book before they could peacefully rest.

Source: Samuel Agbewode, Ho – Ghanaian Chronicle

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