Owusu Bempah, Kwasi Bonzoh set record straight on Ghana Gas: Ellembelle GH₵8m saga

Ernest Owusu Bempah, Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana Gas, has maintained that he has not mentioned anywhere that the DCE for Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh, has benefited monetarily from Ghana Gas to the tune of GH8 million.

During a joint press conference, the DCE also revealed that his area had got just GH4.450 million from Ghana Gas.

The purpose of the media briefing was to address concerns that had resulted in media banter between the two, ending in the Ellembelle DCE threatening to sue Mr. Owusu Bempah for defamation.

At a joint news conference in Takoradi, the two took turns clearing the air, with Owusu Bempah claiming he had been discussing about Ghana Gas' CSIR projects in the Ellembelle district on a radio station in Nzema when he revealed his business had donated GH¢8 million to the assembly.

As a result, he was startled to learn that the DCE had personally collected GH8 million cedis from Ghana Gas. According to him, records from his organization reveal an 8 million cedis financial commitment to the assembly in the payment of company operating licences and property fees.

“I’ve never said anywhere, and I have never said on any platform. What Ghana Gas does is that because Ghana Gas is situated at Ellembelle, we pay rent or property rate and Business Operating Permit to the District Assembly. In the cause of making those statements, there were some figures that were mentioned and the DCE also came in, and then it became some issue that we needed to clear,” he clarified.

The Ellembelle DCE, Kwasi Bonzoh however disclosed that the Assembly had received only GH₵4.45 million from Ghana Gas Company. He said evidence can be deduced from the 2020 Auditor General’s report which cleared the assembly of any financial malfeasance.

“Now the records have been set, the assembly as has been confirmed that it has since 2017 received a total payment of GH¢4.45million from Ghana Gas for the payment of property rate and business operating permit. All the money has gone into the District Assembly’s account and not to my personal account.

“The assembly is a public institution whose account is audited every year. As an Assembly, we will continue to work together with Ghana Gas,” he explained.

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