NPP Prez Hopeful Named �In Senchi Ferry Site Land Deal

A PRESIDENTIAL hopeful of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman constituency, Kofi Osei Ameyaw has been cited as the brain behind a brawl between the queen mother of Senchi, Nana Effa Poakwaa II and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asuogyaman, Ampem Nyarko over a controversial project being embarked upon by the MP at Senchi Ferry site. The queen mother of Senchi who doubles as the queen mother of Akwamu Nifa Division in the Akwamu traditional area in the Eastern region over the weekend held a press conference at Senchi and accused the DCE of gross misconduct against the stool. She charged the residents against the DCE and warned that the community will resist any attempt by the DCE to halt an ongoing project being embarked upon by a private developer (Kofi Osei Ameyaw). The queen mother cited among other things that Mr. Nyarko has insulted her by describing her as childish and being used as a propaganda tool of the MP. Following the press conference, it has emerged that the MP, Osei Ameyaw shared the vision of developing the Senchi Ferry site during a general assembly meeting of the assembly last year and was subsequently advised to submit his proposal to the assembly for consideration. The MP, however, refused to submit the intended plan for the project and went ahead to start developing the land and insisted that the land belongs to the Senchi traditional authority and not the assembly. However, a search on the ownership of the land at the Eastern regional lands commission showed that the land is a government acquired land with some parts owned by private individuals. The assembly, thereafter, proceeded to issue �stop work� warning on all ongoing projects by the MP at the Ferry site, but the orders were defied, with the MP going ahead to construct a swimming pool and erecting a wall at the Ferry site. Checks with the DCE for Asuogyaman revealed that when the Ferries started operation, the district assembly decided to provide temporary sheds for the commuters and traders in the area; however, the project was impeded. The DCE said the wrangling was reported to the then Eastern regional minister, Hellen Adwoa Ntoso for settlement and the MP was asked to present a proposal to the assembly for consideration, but once again, he failed to do so. The DCE argued that the allegations made by the queen mother that he is collecting GH�10.00 from the traders who occupy the sheds into his pocket are mere fabrications since receipts from the assembly are issued on all monies collected. According to the DCE, the queen mother has never stepped foot at his office and parried claims that she was sacked in attempt to meet him at his office. The Akwamu traditional council will today hold a press conference on the matter to make its position clear. When contacted, the MP for Asuogyaman explained that the land in question is a stool land given to him by the queen mother who has the rightful documents. He said the said proposal for permit being talked about by the assembly had been written, but the assembly had remained silent and refused to act on it. But, per the law, after 21 days of silence and refusal to grant the permit, he cannot be restricted from developing the land he has legally acquired. He warned that if the assembly pulls down any structure of his on the said land, he will head to the court to seek the appropriate redress.