ASHAIMAN NDC TASK FORCE COMPENSATED (DAILY GRAPHIC, 1ST AUGUST, 2009), PAGE 13

MEMBERS of Ashaiman NDC task force which recently seized the twenty- one places of convenience in the municipality have been compensated with two of the facilities following an amicable settlement reached by party executives leading to a successful handing over to the assembly.
The move according to Daily Graphic’s sources was aimed at alleviating the groups’ financial status as well as prevent them from embarking on a possible forceful seizure. The facilities were however released to the group without following the due process.
The leader of the task force, Mr Eric Brown-Voryee in a telephone interview confirmed the release of the facilities.
He however indicated that their leadership would be meeting with the assembly to deliberate on terms and conditions regarding the running of the facilities since such an agreement regarding the payment of franchise fee was not reached as at the time of the release.
Some Assembly Members who spoke on anonymity to the Daily Graphic expressed disappointment at the conduct of the chief executive and the presiding member who gave out the facilities without adhering to any bidding and tendering process.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Addison Adinortey Numo, was, however, evasive when contacted, questioning this reporter’s motive for probing into the award of the contract to the group.
He fumed asking “Since you know the people who forcefully took over the facilities, why don’t you go to them for answers”.
The Presiding Member Mr Emmanuel Niikoi Dsane could also not come forward with answers as he kept fumbling on the issues while asking this reporter to go to the chief executive for answers.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Alfred Agbesi also expressed regret at the turn of events questioning the legality of the contract when contacted on telephone.
Mr Bawa Ibrahim, the NDC constituency secretary who was instrumental in the January seizure, however, debunked the allegations made by some of the assembly members when contacted on telephone.
He told the Daily Graphic that they took over fourteen of the facilities on January 10 and handed them over to the assembly on Mrch 29, 2009 following a Tema High Court’s decision.
‘After we handed over them to the assembly, we were made to understand that we have to pay GH¢3,500 as franchise fee for the period out of which we have managed to pay GH¢1, 300 and has asked for time to offset the rest”, Mr Bawa stated.
The task force led by Eric Brown-Voryee about a fortnight ago forcefully took over the 21 facilities after legal tussles between the original operators who are believed to be functionaries of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some NDC constituency executives.