The Assembly member for the Obakatse Electoral Area in Ashaiman, Thomas Adongo is alleging that the budget for the Independence Day parade celebration in Ashaiman was over-bloated.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Mr Adongo called for investigation into the budget expenditure, saying it does not reflect the true state of affairs.
According to the leaked budget statement, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly spent GHC 21, 500 on the Independence day parade.
This figure, according to the outspoken Assembly member for the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Thomas Adongo was highly bloated and needs to be investigated.
The outspoken Assembly member who is a member of the finance and accounts committee of the Assembly, told Citi news Tema Correspondent, Elvis Washington the items stated in the budget are not a true representation of what he saw on the day.
Among other items in the budget, which the Assembly member doubted questioned the amount spent on fuel for GES vehicles adding that GES does not take fuel from the Assembly.
“Go and ask the guards that how much was even given to them for coming to police us, they will tell you nothing, it was free service that they gave to the assembly. Why should we have this in the budget and who took the monies? You come back to the area of Ghana flags, are you telling me that the assembly, we don’t have Ghana flag there? We do. Are you telling me that were sitting down in the assembly without a flag and it was only this 6th March that we were now getting up to prepare a flag that should attract this amount. These are not real things that I for one, should buy into and begin saying that the budget is real.
He wondered why the assembly would set up a 20-member planning committee with each member taking GHC 200 as allowance.
He also questioned why the chief executive, Ibrahim Baidoo spent GHC 3000 for refreshments for his guests after the events.
Mr Adongo said it is unfair for a struggling assembly such as the Ashaiman Municipal assembly with huge development deficit allow such malfeasance.
“Little drops of water make a mighty ocean and if we start stealing small, small like this, it is not going to help us. I know it is no money, looking at the final total of GHC 21, 500. In my community here, it can re-maintain the all the street lights in my electoral area. And we can simply just sit down to cook some monies for ourselves in the name of national events.,” he added.
He charged the chief executive to eschew corruption and ensure he holds his men accountable and ensure the rot which is creeping into the Assembly be put on stop to avoid the wrath of the people.
By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana