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Residents of Asonomaso in the Kwabre East Municipality, Ashanti Region, are demanding the return of GHC 6,000 allegedly lost during the annual community harvest event. The funds, which were raised for a much-needed toilet facility project, have gone missing, leaving the community in a state of outrage and disappointment.
The community’s annual harvest, which was held on Easter Monday, aimed to gather funds for the construction of toilet facilities to address the growing sanitation issues in the area. The event was widely supported by residents, businesses, and philanthropists who made generous contributions in hopes of improving their community’s infrastructure. However, the news of the missing GHC 6,000 has raised serious concerns about the accountability and transparency in managing the funds.
The two Assembly Members—Hon. Osei Kwadwo of the West Electoral Area and Hon. I.K. Acheampong of the East Electoral Area—have found themselves at the center of the controversy. The funds were allegedly managed by these officials in partnership with the harvest committee, making them directly responsible for the allocation and oversight of the contributions.
At a heated meeting held at the Asonomaso Community Center, residents voiced their frustration over the missing money, with many calling for the immediate resignation of the assembly members and the organizers of the harvest event. The absence of clear documentation regarding the spending of the funds has fueled suspicions and led to accusations of mismanagement and possible embezzlement.
“We trusted our leaders with this money, and now, we’re left without answers,” said one resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “This is a betrayal, and we demand that those responsible be held accountable and the funds be returned immediately.”
Speaking to Media , Mr. Oduro, a resident there was no intentional wrongdoing and that the funds were misplaced due to a lack of proper oversight during the handover process. He further explained that the committee was working tirelessly to trace the funds and ensure that the toilet project was completed as planned.
“The funds were not stolen. We are investigating the matter and working with the assembly members to ensure the money is recovered,” Mr. Oduro said in a brief statement. “We are committed to transparency and will provide the community with full accountability.”
Similarly, Kwaku Ntiamoah, another member of the harvest committee, has also sought to redeem his image and clarify his position in the matter. In a separate statement, Ntiamoah explained that the missing funds were due to miscommunication during the event’s financial handling and reiterated the committee’s commitment to addressing the situation.
“I understand the concerns of the community, and I assure them that we are doing everything possible to recover the funds. We are fully dedicated to ensuring that the toilet project moves forward and that there is no loss of trust in the process,” Ntiamoah explained.
Despite these statements, the community remains skeptical, with many residents demanding that a full audit of the funds be conducted. The tension in Asonomanso is palpable, with community leaders calling for immediate action to recover the missing funds and restore faith in the local leadership.
The Chief of Asonomaso, Nana Kwaku Twumasi, has also weighed in on the situation, urging both the assembly members and the harvest committee to cooperate fully with investigations. “We cannot afford to let this issue divide our community,” Nana Twumasi stated. “It is important that those responsible for the mismanagement of funds are held accountable, but we must also work together to find a solution.”
The Asonomaso community is calling on the kwabere East municipal Assembly to step in and conduct an independent inquiry into the matter. There is widespread consensus that this situation underscores the need for stricter financial oversight in community-based projects to prevent future occurrences of mismanagement.
The missing GHC 6,000, intended for the construction of a vital public toilet facility, has become a flashpoint for broader concerns over the management of community-raised funds in the region. As the situation unfolds, residents remain resolute in their demand for justice and accountability.
While the investigation continues, the community’s focus is now on ensuring that the toilet project is not derailed. With support from local leaders, the residents of Asonomaso are hopeful that the missing funds will be recovered and that proper steps will be taken to restore trust in their leadership.
