Corrupt DCE Beaten … Car Vandalized (PHOTO).

The motive behind the attack is not yet known, but it is suspected to be centred on the recent accusation of abuse of office made against the DCE. Mr. Alex Bonsu was reportedly on his way from Nsawkaw in the Tain District to his office at Banda Ahenkro when the unidentified youth attacked him.

They also smashed the windscreen of his official Nissan Patrol car. Still not satisfied with the punishment they meted out to the DCE, the youth proceeded to the offices of Banda District Assembly and vandalized Alex Bonsu’s office.

The irate youth were purportedly seen using the two vehicles belonging to the MP for the area, Ahmed Ibrahim, who recently accused the DCE of corruption, but The Chronicle could not independently confirm this allegation. The smashed the official Nissan Patrol car has since been towed to Sunyani, the regional capital for repairs, whilst the DCE has also ceased going to office for fear of being lynched.

Meanwhile, the youth of Banda and its surrounding villages have gone on a peaceful demonstration at Banda, calling on the authorities to investigate and unearth those behind the attack on the DCE. The demonstrators, led by Douglas Mensah later presented a petition to President Mahama, Inspector General of Police, and the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister through the chief of Banda Sabie, Nana Sie Manaa. In the petition they demanded an immediate arrest of those who masterminded the attack on the DCE.

The Chronicle reported last week Friday that the MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Banda in the Brong Ahafo Region and Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, had bemoaned the state of corruption in the Banda District Assembly. The Member of Parliament, who was touring some communities in his constituency to explain what has been going on in Parliament to the people, could not hide his frustration at the rate at which the resources of the new district were being dissipated.

“As a Member of the Legislature, I have the responsibility to ensure that the executive arm of government make judicious use of the resources of this country, and will, therefore, not hide any corrupt element anywhere,” the MP told the people. Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim said corruption had no political colours, and that no matter who was involved, it must be exposed.

He noted that it was not those who shield corruption who are lovers of the party (NDC) and government, but those who come out to expose corrupt activities like what was going on in the Banda District Assembly, led by the District Chief Executive, Alex Bonsu.

He said since the creation of the new district, not even a single project had been completed by the District Assembly, though the district had received over GH¢2.1million from the government. “The corruption at the District Assembly is not about me, Ahmed, and the District Chief Executive, Mr. Alex Bonsu, or any personality for that matter, but it is at the heart of the development of the district and the people of Banda,” the MP said.

Ahmed said ever since the matter of financial malfeasance was exposed by external auditors at the Assembly, he had never gone public with any issue, but felt obliged to do so now. The MP said an audit carried out at the Assembly had uncovered a series of corruption, including inflation of contract sums on boreholes, ghost contracts and the misappropriation of the Disability Fund.

The Member of Parliament added that the District Chief Executive had admitted in various meetings, including those with the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, of his involvement in these corrupt activities. Mr. Alex Bonsu told The Chronicle that he would not comment on the allegation, and that he had been advised by a minister not to make any public comment.

The MP, however, told his constituents that all those in higher authority who are supposed to know about the massive corruption in the assembly had been briefed, and that he was waiting for their response.