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Youth of Amenfi East District in the Western Region are psyching themselves up for a huge demonstration against what they describe as massive looting at the District Assembly.

Although the actual date for the demonstration has not been fixed, the youth are saying that they would fight till the looting is investigated thoroughly.

 The immediate-past District Chief Executive (DCE) of Amenfi-East and three other officials of the assembly were arrested by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) some two weeks ago.

The four were arrested in connection with how certain projects were awarded to some companies that were suspected to have close links with them.

Again, it is alleged that the four, awarded various contracts to cronies, without making use of the procurement processes.

The lead on the deal was blown by Mr. Isaac Kwesi Enning, Amenfi East Constituency Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who hopped from one radio station to the other, after he was hinted of the looting spree.

Mr. Enning is expected to lead the demonstration which would be devoid of the usual NDC/NPP politics.

For once, the youth are saying that it is about the district and not party politics and would therefore go all out to ensure that the veil is unveiled on all corrupt activities of the assembly.

 Information from the corridors of EOCO in Accra indicates that the four were quizzed over how some GH₵¢600, 000.00 paid by Perseus Mines, as royalties to the district was disbursed.

Out of the GH¢600,000.00 a whopping GH¢120,000.00 was paid to consultants. They have been granted bail and reporting to the EOCO on weekly basis.

There are also rumors that the District Coordinating Director was offered an amount of GH¢40,000.00 as kickback from the consultants. 

So stinky was the looting, that a company that specializes in the construction of boreholes in the area was rated as also having the capacity to supply computers to the assembly.

Although, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has already picked some files from the assembly, the angry officials feel that something must be done in earnest, to prevent further loot.

What is amazing is the fact that contract could be awarded to a company even without its knowledge.

There are murmurings as to who the real owners of OX Ventures; Theo Thom Company Limited; Percymens Services and Messrs Mbangya Enterprise are. 

That small assembly in the Western Region, is expected to spend over GH¢ 69,248 on stationery; toners and cartridges alone; a situation some aggrieved officials believe was part of the machinations to loot the assembly.

OX Venture, a company suspected to belong to one of the assembly officials, with main business interest in borehole drilling, is expected to supply the stationery, toners and cartridges to the assembly.

The assembly has also awarded contract for the supply of ten laptop computers, to a company called ROYAMOAH, which is believed to belong to a friend of the District Project Officer (DPO).

What is more ridiculous is the fact that the unit cost of the laptop was quoted at GH₵5, 000.00, whilst unit cost of a laptop computer on the open market, in fact, ranges between GH¢2,500 and GH¢3,000.

The supply of office furniture for a Police Post at Nkonya, in the area, also cost the assembly some whopping GH¢69,280 and, there are flags flying that the furniture was overpriced and manipulated by some officials of the assembly and, that if the deal was not stopped, the assembly would lose several thousands of Ghana Cedis.

The assembly, without recourse to procurement procedure, awarded certain contracts to some companies and made payments of mobilization as quickly as possible.

Although, a contract for the construction of an ultra-modern maternity block at Wassa Akropong Government Hospital, was awarded to Joethur Limited on December 24, 2015, an amount of GH¢82,082.07 being the 20% mobilization fee, was paid on December 23, 2015.

A contract for the cutting and filling to make up level of a proposed market-site at Wassa Akropong, was also awarded to Saberto Construction, on December 27, 2015, without the knowledge of the company itself.

Strangely, an amount of GH¢77,180.00 was earmarked for the payment of the 20% mobilization fee; and payment was nearly effected, when the contractor confronted the assembly.

An amount of GH¢48,400.00 has also been earmarked for the rehabilitation of some 25 orphaned boreholes throughout the district ,to be undertaken by OX Ventures, but it has turned out that there are no beneficiary communities for that project and, there are indications that no works would be done.

What is intriguing is the fact that that same company constructed some 55 boreholes and refused to repair them as per the contract.