The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly in the Upper East Region had this year, spent GH¢333,416.16 on security personnel, in maintaining peace in respect with chieftaincy conflict in the area.
The conflict, which begun about five years ago, had resulted in the heavy presence of military and other security personnel in the municipality and its environs, compelling the assembly to spend its meagre resources to cater for the security personnel, instead of focusing on developmental projects.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Bolgatanga, Mr Joseph Amiyuuri, disclosed these at the assembly’s turn of the meet the press series held here last Friday.
He said the amount, which was drawn from the assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF) and District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) was spent on fuel and lubricants, maintenance and repairs of vehicles meant for security, particularly the military to enhance patrols as well as food for them.
Mr Amiyuuri stressed that the expenditure for maintaining peace and security was only for 2019 and that similar amount was spent in the previous years on security.
The MCE asked the Ministry of The Interior and Ministry of Defence to as a matter of urgency, support the assembly in ensuring peace and security.
Mr Amiyuuri called on the citizens in the area to desist from conflicts and bury their differences for the sake of development.
The MCE said that the assembly owed people who sold food meant for security personnel.
Mr Amiyuuri however, said government was implementing development projects and programmes, such as Planting for Food and Jobs and free Senior High School, and asked the people to pay their taxes regularly to enable the assembly initiate more development projects.
He appealed to journalists to support the assembly by playing its watchdog role and prompting the assembly to roll out development projects to improve the people’s livelihood.
FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, BOLGATANGA
