The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed has denied claims that he directed the movement of some 400 unaccounted for tricycles from the Northern Development Authority’s compound.
According to him, he personally ensured the protection of the tricycles prior to the appointment of the now-dismissed Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, Dr Alhaji Abdel-Majeed Haroun.
A press statement released by the Minister said “I did not direct anyone or group of persons or company to pick any item from the premises of the NDA yard in my name or the Northern Regional Coordinating Council.”
Mr Sa-eed also described as palpable falsehood claims by some section of the public and social media commentators about his knowledge and involvement in the missing tricycles.
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“The said claim being purported by the letter of the former NDA boss and Kelvin Taylor’s report is false and a palpable lie. This is an attempt to soil my hard-earned reputation and hard work,” he lamented.
Mr Sa-eed stressed if he was really behind the tricycles pick up, he would have written formally to the NDA, giving clear directions and the locations to deposit the items.”
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has been tasked to investigate circumstances under which some 400 tricycles were allegedly stolen from the Northern Development Authority’s (NDA) yard.
This investigation follows a letter filed by the then Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr A. M Haroun chronicling how the tricycles were stolen.
This development comes months after President Nana Akufo Addo revoked the appointment of Dr. Alhaji Abdel-Majeed Haroun.
Read full statement below:
My attention has been drawn to a letter in which the dismissed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr Alhaji Abdel-Majeed Haroun, has claimed that I directed that some tricycles be picked from the NDA yard.
I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that, I did not direct anyone or group of persons or companies to pick any item from the premises of the NDA yard in my name or the Northern Regional Coordinating Council. For the records, I was the same person who ensured the protection of said items upon my appointment until the appointment of the CEO of NDA.
The said claim being purported by the letter of the former NDA boss and Kelvin Taylor’s report is false and a palpable lie. This is an attempt to soil my hard-earned reputation and hard work. If I was really behind the tricycles pick up, I would have written formally to the NDA, giving clear directions and the locations to deposit the items.
As head of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), there was the need for the CEO who had access to me to verify before allowing the so-called assignees of mine to pick those tricycles as claimed.
I, therefore, join calls for the NDA to as a matter of urgency to open a full-scale investigation into the entire tricycles matter, dating back to 2016 in accordance with the laid down procedures and laws.
I wish to also add that no one is above the law and as a law-abiding citizen, criminals irrespective of their political lineage, must be dealt with accordingly.
Signed
Salifu Sa-eed
(Northern Regional Minister)
