RTO Medium

Paddy Dortor writes: 🖋️ 🖋️ 🖋️

The circumstances surrounding the recent attempt to provide funding for the repair of the Ada East district ambulance and maintenance of the fire tender raise several questions that deserve clear answers from the relevant authorities.

The engine of the ambulance serving your constituency broke down before December 2025. Letters were sent to you, the MP, and to the DCE requesting assistance to replace the engine, but there was no response. As a result, lives were reportedly lost because no ambulance was available to transport patients to the referral hospital in Accra. Frustrated by this and other neglected development issues, the youth in the area staged a demonstration. Shortly before the protest, you stated in an interview on Radio Ada that no individual could resolve the matter without going through the National Ambulance Commission. Later, you organized a stakeholder engagement and presented GHS 90,000 in cash: GHS 50,000 for the ambulance service to replace the engine and GHS 40,000 for the Ghana Fire Service to maintain its fire tender. It later emerged, however, that the recipients were asked to return the cash so that the proper procedures could be followed. This raised concern among many people.

In the interest of transparency and accountability, I need answers to the following concerns:

1. I read from one of the PAs of the MP that the request only got to the MP at the event and she happened to have that cash on her. I was wondering how the MP brought the exact cash amount to the event. Was it her personal cash or it came from the assembly's coffers?

2. If the money originated from the Assembly’s coffers, what procedures were followed before the money was withdrawn? At what stage was it realised that due process had not been followed? Was the cash presentation merely for optics intended to mislead the public?

3. Since money is fungible, why not leave the cash with the agencies and complete the paperwork afterward to regularize the irregularity? After all, the audit trail would still show the approval or withdrawal of the funds, as well as when the process was initiated and completed.

4. Prior to the demonstration, reports indicate that letters were written to the MP and DCE regarding the broken ambulance engine. If that is accurate, why did she feign oblivion? How was the amount needed for the repairs established so quickly?

5. Under normal public procurement procedures, do officers typically carry cash to source items for government agencies, or are quotations obtained, approval secured, and payments processed through established channels after invoices are submitted? What has changed?

6. Can we say that the MP and DCE get the officers there to act on their orders without following the due process? What control measures exist in the district?

7. Would it not have been more appropriate to inform stakeholders that approval was being sought for the release of funds through the proper channels, after which payment would be made directly to the relevant agencies or service providers?

8. If public funds were involved, why was such a significant amount carried in cash rather than processed through a cheque, assuming all required approvals had been obtained?

I was dismayed to see people on social media trying to dismiss this serious issue. If Ada is to develop and rise above mediocrity, we must take matters like this seriously. One does not need to be an expert or highly educated to ask basic questions about what happened. It is simply common sense.

Let us get serious. At least for once. Ada.

rtomedium.com

Our CEO Ras Tbc Ofoe pens down a good will message to all:

"I wish to express my profound gratitude to you (everyone) for your support and presence during the burial, memorial and thanksgiving service of my beloved father, Nene Asigbey III.

THANK YOU, GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU 🙏🏿"

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DAILY ROAD SAFETY TIPS

Guidelines & Rules to Drive Safely, with special attention paid to ROAD JUNCTIONS:

- Look left, look right, look left again before crossing or turning; use your mirrors to double-check

- On a level crossing, give way to a car from the left


National Road Safety Authority - NRSA
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Ghana

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