Chief refutes allegation against municipal chief executive
Nana Otaa Panin III, the Daabenhene of the Denkyira Traditional Area in the Central Region, has refuted the recent bribery allegation levelled against the Municipal Chief Executive for the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly, Peter Kofi Owusu Ashia Jnr.
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It would be recalled that Mr Ashia was accused of an alleged bribery scandal recently during the operations of the Presidential Taskforce mandated to clamp down on illegal small–scale mining activities at Dunkwa–On–Offin.
Addressing pressmen at his residence, the Daabenhene, who is also the chairman of the sub-committee on mining at the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly, said investigations conducted had revealed that the activities of the illegal small–scale miners were being supported by some influential persons in the municipality
He said when the MCE tried to clamp down on their illegal activities , they in turn adopted means to ensure that they smeared the MCE with the bribery allegation . Nana Otaa Panin further revealed that since the MCE was the chairman of the taskforce championing the effort to stop the illegal activities , it came not as a surprise to him and other public-spirited citizens in the municipality when they first heard of the allegation on a radio station at Dunkwa-On-Offin
‘’By his action, the MCE had definitely stepped on some powerful toes as far as the assignment was concerned,’’ he added
On development issues, the Daabenhene commended the MCE for ensuring that within his four-year term, some social interventions like the school feeding programme and CHPS compounds had been extended to some hitherto deprived communities like Praprabebida, Zion Campand Ntontom, all in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality.
He added that through the effort of the MCE, the water shortage problem was being solved
He implored President John Mahama to retain Mr Ashia as the MCE for continuity of his development programmes.
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Meanwhile Kwame Asare Boadu reports that Mr Ashia has been absolved of the bribery allegation.
Mr Ashia was recently reported to have been arrested and questioned by National Security over allegations of bribery and extortion from some Chinese illegal miners who were arrested during a special operation in the area.
However, speaking to the Daily Graphic on Friday, the MCE said investigations into the allegation had proved to be false.
He accused some ‘detractors’ of plotting to destroy the good image he had carved for himself.
“I am happy about the outcome of the matter because all along I knew I had not done nothing wrong,” the MCE said.
Upper Denkyira is one of the galamsey areas of the country with both locals and foreigners engaged in the illegal business.
This year, the municipal area has recorded a major mine disaster with 17 illegal miners perishing when a galamsey mine caved in at Kyekyewere.
Until recently when the national security conducted swoops to rid the communities of illegal mining, hundreds of Chinese were engaged in galamsey there.
Mr Ashia said despite the attempt to soil his image, he would continue to play the role expected of him in controlling galamsey in the municipality.