Gh¢220,000 spent on cemetery fence by gov’t agency (PHOTO)

• Posted on September 16, 2014September 16, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) has spent Gh¢220,000 of funds meant to develop the region on a fence wall for a graveyard, in what residents say was a wasteful venture.

Residents say they can hardly see how the fence will facilitate efforts to end poverty in the region, which is among the most deprived in the country.

Kwaku Mensah, a youth leader in Agona Swedru, where CEDECOM has fenced the graveward, said most of the people in the area were unemployed and hence could not see how the fenced cemetery would be beneficial to them.

But Kwetey Quainor, CEDECOM Public Relations Director, said the fenced graveyard would serve as a tourist site.

“It will be difficult for people to understand”, he said, adding the graveyard is the burial place for prominent chiefs of the area.

Joy News has been tracing CEDECOM’s mandate of bringing projects that are expected to bring social and economic development to the Central Region.

On Monday, investigations by Central Region Correspondent, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko revealed for instance that, the only trace of a piggery project that cost more than Gh¢100,000 was an uncompleted structure that was overgrown with weeds.

That project was however, recorded in the CEDECOM’s 2011 project records.

Also, according to Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, weeds have covered the Swedru Sports Stadium, although Gh¢140,000 had been allocated to the commission to reconstruct the complex.

“The outside of the stadium has been painted but the inside of the stadium has broken stands and no chain fencing”, Richard reported.

Another project that has been consumed by weeds is the rest stop located at Ekumfi Essuehyia, on the Winneba-Cape Coast road. That project, according to CEDECOM cost Gh¢612,000.

According to residents, the location of the rest stop made it impossible to attract clients.

Paramount Chief of Assin Apimenim traditional area, Barimah Kwame Nkyi XII said CEDECOM’s many strategies to develop the region has been a disaster.

“If people want water, borehole, will you leave that and fence a wall for the dead?”, the disillusioned chief demanded.

He said CEDECOM failed when it decided to fence a graveyard instead of providing water for the living in the area.

-joynews