Benjamin Assandor Asabil
SOME RESIDENTS of Bechem in the Tano South Municipality of Ahafo Region have petitioned the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to reject the candidacy of Benjamin Essandor Asabil as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the assembly.
This was based on an audit report of 2018 which indicted Mr. Asabil for financial impropriety as he was said to be involved in a double salary scandal.
According to sources, four persons including Benjamin Assandor, Isaac Agyei Buabeng, Isaac Edwin Ntim Gyakari and the immediate past MCE, Collins Afunam Tekyi have been vetted and shortlisted for appointment by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, subject to approval by the district assembly.
But some residents are against the clearing of Benjamin at the regional level and have decided to petition the President over the credibility of the candidate.
A petition sighted by DAILY GUIDE which was titled, “Petition Against Assendor Benjamin Asabil as Aspiring MCE in Tano South Municipal Assembly” and signed by one Owusu Kwarteng Anthony, an Electoral Coordinator of Asomakokrom among others, revealed that the 2018 audit report conducted by the audit service into the Internally Generated Fund (IGF) of the assembly found him guilty.
The report, it was noted, indicted Mr. Asabil for receiving double salaries from Ghana Education Service (GES), Tepa and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) at Bechem, Tano South as the coordinator.
The audit report said Benjamin acted against the regulation of Audit Service Act working and receiving salaries in two government institutions as a training officer at Tepa GES office and a Tano South Municipal Coordinator of the YEA.
It was further alleged in the petition that the candidate absconded with monies he collected from Bechem market women and the public some time ago when he was microcredit agent (Susu collector).
When contacted on phone for his side of the allegations, Mr. Benjamin Assandor declined to comment on the issues raised in the petition but rather said the audit report was laid before the Tano South Assembly so the paper should crosscheck from the assembly saying, “I don’t want to speak to it.”
The Ahafo Regional Minister, George Yaw Boakye was also contacted on phone whether the regional vetting committee was aware of the petition but still went ahead and cleared Benjamin.
He replied in affirmative and said “we did not find anything wrong with him,” adding “the person who brought it to you, if he likes can still also send it to national,” he said in a phone conversation.
The petitioners are therefore pleading with President Nana Akufo-Addo to give them a candidate who is trustworthy and can be entrusted with the finances of the district to realise his vision of empowering the people economically.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Bechem