LEKMA Corruption Charges: EX-MCE Blames Ofosu-Ampofo

Former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ledzokuku-Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) in the Greater Accra region, Daniel Amartey Mensah, has taken a swipe at his accusers for dragging �his good name into the mud.� He has, however, directed his critics to instead vent their anger on the former Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo. According to him, whatever he did was under the express instructions from the then local government minister. �I was under an obligation to take instructions from my boss (referring to Ofosu-Ampofo) and hence I couldn�t have done anything without his knowledge or concern,� Mr. Amartey said. �Therefore if I�m guilty of any offence as my critics say then my former boss is also guilty,� the distressed former LEKMA boss added. The former MCE who has declared his intention to vie for the Greater Accra chairmanship position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was responding to series of allegations leveled against him by Assemblyman for Nkpor Electoral Area, Prince Aminu Saana. Among the many allegations against him, the NDC Greater Accra chairman aspirant said he never paid any money to a ghost company as being alleged by his adversaries. Mr. Amartey made these observations in an interview with in Accra. Instead, he added, the company in question, �Africa Connections,� is an existing company which he said, was introduced to him by Mr. Ofosu Ampofo. According to the former MCE, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo directed him through a letter written and signed by him (Ofosu Ampofo) to deal with the company. The company, he noted, has been in existence for the past seven years and according to him, it was therefore prudent to work with such a company which he said has credibility. When Today reached Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo via phone as of press time yesterday he disclosed that he was currently in Bolgatanga and therefore could not speak on the matter. He thus requested that we call him today [Monday, August 18,] since he will be in Accra by then. According to him, he could not recollect the matter, adding that he will call the ministry of information before he will speak to Today. It would be recalled that the Nkpor Assembly man recently held a press conference to raise issues against the NDC Greater Accra regional chairman aspirant. He alleged among other things that ex-LEKMA MCE unilaterally paid out the assembly�s fund of GH�40,000.00 to a ghost company by name Africa Connections under the pretence of sending four delegations to participate in the 89th Focus on Africa in the US. That, the former MCE said, �was not true and whoever doubts the existence of the said company can go to the Register General�s Department to verify the authenticity of the company.� No amount of pressure or mudslinging, he said, will deter him from backing out of the NDC Greater Accra chairmanship race. �My detractors know what I�m capable of doing when it comes to delivery and that�s why they are bent on destroying me but my brother (referring to this reporter) I�m a tough person,� he asserted. To this end, he called on the rank-and-file of the NDC to ensure that the campaign for their upcoming intra-party contest is done in the spirit of fairness, peace and unity.