Hon. Kofi Ofori Atta, the Assembly Member for Akekensu Electoral Area and Chairman of the Achiase Disability Fund Management Committee, has disclosed to the media that the list of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) requesting support from the Disability Common Fund, which was prepared and presented to the Achiase District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Solomon Brako, has been changed.
He is alleging that the original list of 62 persons that was approved after a rigorous vetting process has been heavily altered.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the changes were made without consulting the committee, which he states is a breach of the established protocols for managing the fund.
He disclosed that the incident has caused tension within the Achiase District Assembly and has drawn attention to ongoing national concerns regarding the management and potential misuse of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
According to him, they are unaware whether the new names included in the revised list are genuinely PWDs.
He expressed his disappointment that the DCE would allegedly change the list and add new names who have not been interviewed or vetted to determine their qualification for the support.
“I strongly believe the DCE is the one who has made changes to the list. We submitted 62 names, but the number has now increased to 100. We don’t mind if the number has increased; if the ones added are also PWDs, that’s okay. However, we cannot allow for this to happen. Those who have not submitted their applications and been vetted cannot be given the support, but the DCE breached the protocols and went ahead in handing over the support to people who had not been vetted. We had no concerns that the number had increased, but upon review, the list of people we had approved had changed, with only about 20 out of the list we had approved still there, with new names included.”
He revealed that he has personally reported the matter to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for investigation; however, he was yet to receive any update.
Mr. Kofi Ofori Atta maintained that this matter ought to be investigated and has also called on journalists to look into the issue.
When asked if the new persons added are PWDs, he stated, “I don’t know. I have no idea about that. I don’t know who they are and whether they are PWDs. That is why we are encouraging the media to investigate the matter and expose any wrongdoing.”
Efforts to reach the DCE to respond to the allegations have proven futile.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
