Sawla, Ghana – The Wife of the District Chief Executive for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Northern Region, Madam Abubakri Ziinatu alias Confidence, last Friday issued a thunderous slap in the face of the New Patriotic Party’s Constituency Chairman, Mohammed Fuseini over what she described as an attempt by the latter to disgrace her husband Awal Tamimu who owed him money he borrowed prior to being confirmed as DCE for the area.
The Chairman, in an exclusive interview, told local journalist Joseph Wereh that, prior to the DCE’s confirmation, he asked him to borrow him an amount of Gh₵37,500.00 of which he has since paid only Gh₵10,000.00 remaining Gh₵27,500.00.
“The DCE borrowed my money since the time of his confirmation, so I have been following him for the money I don’t get it. Last Friday he asked me to come for the money at his house, I called on some party elders in the Constituency and even from Wa, to accompany me to the DCE’s house. These elders were the Constituency Council of Elders Secretary Alhaji Mark Nuhu, Upper West NPP Patron member, popularly called Alhaji Broni and others.
“We got there and the DCE wasn’t around, so Alhaji Broni which I borrowed the money from and also gave it to the DCE, asked the wife to know whether it is true the husband took the money. After that question, she started attacking me and the former Chairman, calling us names. I told her we are not here to fight. Before we took leave of her, she held my shirt and slapped me. But I never retaliated”, he explained.
Mr. Mohammed also debunked a recent publication that sought to suggest that he and his executives have been receiving monthly salary from the DCE.
According to him, there is a Facebook publication that states that he is being paid an amount of Gh₵3,000.00 while his other Executives receive Gh₵1,500.00 each, in a month.
Not only that, he says the said publication also added that the Executives have been given motorbikes and contracts, but have picked the contract money and abandoned the projects.
Although he described the publication as false and something to tarnish his image, Mr. Mohammed agreed that there are motorbikes, but that is for the party executives and that is a normal.
Nevertheless, he mentioned 4 contracts on renovation work the DCE himself did without a single one to any party Executive.
He recalled a contract he gave him and claimed that it is to cover the money he borrowed.
“I signed for a contract and later refused. I never took money too. The terms in the contract was bad. The DCE gave me two schools renovation contract of Gh₵34,800.00 and told me my balance of *Gh₵27,500.00 of which he owned me is part of that contract. If I should deduct my money how much will be left to do the contract? It means I can’t do the work”, he disclosed.
Speaking to the Constituency Secretary, Jonathan laamiitey, he said it is true the DCE is not working up to the expectation party Executives and citizens.
He also denied an allegation that he has received Gh₵10,000.00 from the DCE. Adding that “if people are saying the DCE is sharing money to the Executives, what kind of money is that? Is that money from his pocket or the government money? When there are needs of the people for him to address,” he questioned.
Mr. Laamiitey revealed how Mr. Lawal himself is riding a motorbike to work while there are broken down cars parked at the Assembly which he has refused to repair.
According to him, when he took office, there was a Navara pickup and Nissan patrol, all got broke down and he has now turned to a motorbike.
Adding that the DCE does not pick their calls too, describing him as a “wrong” person to be appointed to work for the district.
By Joseph Wereh, a local journalist in Sawla.