PRESS CONFERENCE BY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF LOWER MANYA ON THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE- MR. ISAAC TETTEH AGBO

16th JULY, 2012 - Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the press and fellow Krobos.

*We have gathered here this morning to bring to the public attention the corrupt practices by the Municipal Chief Executive Mr. Isaac Tetteh Agbo. We also want to bring to the attention of the PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC His Excellency Prof. J.E.A. Mills the ill-gotten properties of the M.C.E. in fact by the actions or inactions of the M.C.E. the municipality has seen negative development in the three years that he has been in office.

*We outline the corrupt practices we have identified as follows:

*The M.C.E. immediately after taking office caused a shed to be erected over a well at 'Abledu' a suburb of Odumase Krobo. Materials that were used for the construction are four (4) iron poles each measuring about 3 metres and about eight (8) roofing sheets.

*From a layman's perspective this project should cost at most One thousand Ghana Cedis. However the M.C.E. inflated the cost to seven thousand five hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢7.500.00) Queries by the internal Auditors compelled the M.C.E. to reduce the cost to Six Thousand Five Hundred Ghana cedis (6,500.00).

*The project was executed by Tamaako Enterprise a construction company owned by his girlfriend Mary Tetteh, who was also awarded a contract to built a two classroom at Oborpah West D/A Primary/JHS at cost of Forty Eight thousand Ghana cedis.

*Within a period of three years the M.C.E. has acquired three (3) houses. Not just ordinary houses but mansions. These houses are located at (i) Ablotsi a suburb of Odumase-Krobo (ii) off the kpong-Akosombo Highway after Belekope village and the third one at Haatso-Accra. The mentioned Haatso house is said to be a three bedroom house before the M.C.E. purchased it. He has since expanded the structure to contain eighteen rooms which suggest he intends using it for either a hostel or a hotel. The M.C.E. Mr. Isaac Agbo Tetteh was said to have awarded the construction of the market stalls at Agormanya to a Cape Coast based contractor by name Nana. The M.C.E. collected a bribe of fifteen thousand Ghana cedis from the said contractor and was given an award letter.

*Rather strangely, after taking the money (bribe) he swerved Nana and instead gave the contract to another contractor. When Nana went to demand for his money, he was met with insults. The press and the general public can be led to the various sites to make their own judgments/assessments.

*The M.C.E. is in the process of acquiring a fourth house. He is developing a plot of land at Cape Coast behind the University of Cape Coast.

*Last year the Municipal Assembly acquired a grader. The M.C.E. personally negotiated for the acquisition for which he was paid a kick back of thirty thousand Ghana cedis (GH ¢30,000.00) which has been added to the cost of the grader for the Assembly to pay.

*In 2009 the M.C.E. in the company of his girlfriend Mavis Nyantekyi had an accident with his official vehicle (Ford Everest) with registration number G 2392 Y at a spot near Somanya. He lied to the Police that his driver was the one driving the vehicle, when he actually was the one driving under the influence of alcohol. The M.C.E. succeeded in claiming insurance from Quality Insurance Company and took money from the Municipal Assembly coffers to top up and purchased a Nissan Patrol. If the insurance should pay anything at all the M.C.E. should use his personal money for the top up.

*in a related development the M.C.E. caused his driver and one other person to inflate the price of the same Ford Everest when the engine broke down and needed replacement. He inflated the price from two thousand seven hundred Ghana cedis (2,700.00) to Six Thousand Three Hundred Ghana cedis (6,300.00).

*immediately on assumption of office the M.C.E. applied and was admitted to pursue an Executive MBA with a foreign University. Part of the cost of the programme he made the Municipal assembly to pay. How on earth should the Assembly be made to pay for somebody's private investment? Or is it a scholarship?

*In allocation of public toilets he fraudulently allocated the most profitable facility (toilets) to his girlfriend-Mary Tetteh. Three of the most profitable toilets are the Agormanya market toilet, Kpongunor toilet and Kpong Batorkordji toilet.

*The M.C.E. has acquired so much wealth such that he was able to buy a car for both his wife and girlfriend. That of his wife is an unregistered Toyota Corolla Saloon car and that of his girlfriend is with registration number GR 7151-12.

*Another of his fraudulent deals was in the construction of walls around Oklemekuku Park. The fencing has not been completed yet full payment has been effected. An amount of Eighty Nine Thousand Ghana cedis (89,000.00) has been paid.

*Mention can also be made of the renovation of the District Director of Education bungalow at Abanse. For just a renovation a whooping amount of Eighty Thousand Ghana cedis (80,000.00) was paid. The project was executed by Manapp Ventures.

*A three unit classroom block executed by Haleluya Enterprise, his girlfriend's other company has deteriorated or even collapsed just after two years of completion.

*Another project that has fraudulently been executed is the supply of sub-standard Air Conditioners at the cost of Forty Thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢40,000.00) to the District Assembly.

*Last but not the least is the accounts on the Limestone Conveyance.

*Accounts has not been made public for the past two years and so the funds from that source are at the mercy of the M.C.E.

*All these, Hon. Isaac Tetteh Agbo was able to manipulate because of the absence of District Assembly members. The Interim Management Committee that was formed also exists by name for the M.C.E., he sidelined them to succeed in diverting funds meant for development to his personal use.

*Lest I forget, the M.C.E. is known to use his position to lure traders to use the name of the Municipal Assembly on all receipts covering timber logs bought to Odumase from elsewhere to dodge Forestry Department.

*The M.C.E. at times goes to restaurants to obtain receipts and invoices and effect payment to such keepers to cover expenses that were never made. He indicated that he used the said amount to refresh N.D.C executives or other Government officials. The Assembly's expenditure or payment invoices can be used to ascertain the facts.

*He ordered the payment of GH¢25,000.00 to Afro wing Travel and Tour Agency from the District Assembly Common Fund to facilitate his trip to the U.S.A without any prior approval by any legitimate body.

*We wish to alert the Government that there are gargantuan judgment debts looming over the head of the Lower Manya Municipality Assembly due to the negligence of the M.C.E. and his refusal to pay contractors for work done for the Assembly.

*The M.C.E. caused the payment of over GH¢80,000.00 to Somovision for no work done.

*We want the Government and the good people of Ghana to know that, we are doing this in the interest of Krobo land and we are serious. We therefore demand immediate action, failure to which we shall advice ourselves using all democratic means to demand accountability.

*We are reliably informed that the M.C.E. has started calling for files and payment vouchers to try to manipulate the figures to cover up his deals, in viewing current agitations.

*The M.C.E. is parading the streets of Odumase-Krobo boasting that he has some 'big men' behind so he could do anything that pleases him. He is claiming powerful official's like-Hon. Ama Benyiwaa Doe, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo, Mrs. Naadu Mills, Hon. Nii Vanderpuye, and Mr. Kofi Potorphy are all his people and so he is not afraid of anything like dismissal from office.

*He also claims that all the Eastern Regional Executives of the N.D.C are all behind him so he is well covered.

*We wish to state that Hon. Isaac Tetteh Agbo is the worst D.C.E. /M.C.E. or the worst thing that ever happened to Manya Krobo.

*We therefore call on the President to remove Hon. Isaac Tetteh Agbo from office immediately to save the Assembly from going bankrupt.

*We are also calling on the Minister of Local Government to order an inspection of the three houses and the plot under development.

*We are finally appealing to the President, the Local Government minister and the Eastern Regional Minister, to as matter of urgency, conduct a probe into all this allegations which we the youth of Lower Manya krobo are ready to assist when the need arises.

This has been the second time we are appealing to you for government action and we hereby wish to conclude that *THERE WILL NOT BE A THIRD APPEAL AGAIN!!!

Also all contracts executed be re-inspected with the contractors present and whether payment has been made fully or partially.

Thank you and May God bless us all.
N.B:
* This is the number of his girlfriend Mary Tetteh (024-4487553)

*You can also contact the following for more details:

1. MR. ERIC AGMORTEY-024-1459181
2. MR. GOLDMAN AWUKU DODZI-054-1552471