Chief locks up toilet over GHC4000 debt; community resort to bush and beach

Akplabanya community including staff and school pupils in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region attend to nature’s call in the open and at the Seashore, not because there is no toilet facility in the Community, but for the assembly’s alleged refusal to pay some money owned a Chief.

The Chief of the Community, Nene Ankrah Kitcher Labia – VI, locked the State-of-the -art Water Closet Toilet facility claiming that the District Assembly owes him GHC4,000 Cedis.

The over 10,000 populated community as a result his action visit the nearest open place to ease themselves because they have no option.

The USAID in collaboration with the then Dangme East District Assembly constructed the about 70 thousand Cedis 10-seater toilet facility for the community in 2015 with auxiliary facilities including four polytanks for water storage and electricity.

However, the fenced wall facility was padlocked by Nene Ankra Kitcher Labia-Vl because he alleged that the district assembly owed him an amount of GHC4000 as part of the terms in the contractual agreement.

Meanwhile, two out of the existing 3 toilets in the community are no longer in use due their deteriorated nature that is beyond repairs, leaving only one also not in the best of shape to function.

Reacting to the issue, the District Chief Executive for Ada West, Adzoteye Lawyer Akrofi stated that he severally pleaded with the Chief to allow the community to access the facility while the Assembly settles him in installment, but he (chief) has declined.

The DCE noted that the Chief at a point physically prevented a team of Assembly staff who went there to officially commission the facility.

He said the Assembly is mobilising funds to pay Nene Ankrah Kitcher Labia -Vi, in bulk so that the community including the Chief can access the toilet.

The Assembly, he further stated will have to repair the broken metal gate and replace parts of the roofing that was ripped off.

Adzoteye Larweh Akrofi has recently been complaining about the lack of support from the local Chiefs when ever the Assembly approaches them to release lands for community development.

Nene Ankrah Kitcher Labia VI, when contacted confirmed the allegations, but denied that he physically prevented Assembly staff from commissioning the project.