Thomas Kwame Okrah, the top official at the Adansi North District Assembly in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, fled his office in a hurry on February 5, 2025, as local Assembly Members marched to protest his leadership.
The Assembly Members allege that Okrah treated them with disrespect and mismanaged public funds, citing the use of DRIP machines for his own purposes. They also claim he interfered with the selection process for the upcoming Council of State election. Okrah left before the protestors arrived, and police from Fomena were called in to maintain order.
The Assembly Members have since formally requested that higher authorities, including traditional leaders and the regional minister, remove Okrah from his position.
Speaking to Citi News, Presiding Member Dominic Odame Kusi outlined the reasons for their protest.
“Per the law, two members have to be selected from the assembly members. As the Presiding Member, I submitted the names to him for official endorsement and onward submission to the Regional Coordinating Council. However, I later discovered that the names had been changed without consultation. The Assembly Members were not happy with it, leading to the protest.”
He also reiterated concerns about the alleged misuse of the DRIP machines, claiming they had been used for unauthorized purposes.
“We also realized that the DRIP machines were being used for other work, and when we checked, names had been changed. Also we had to pack up the machines. We no longer want to work with him and have taken steps to ensure his transfer.
“A petition has been sent to the Coordinating Council, the regional minister, and the chiefs, and we have been assured that we will hear from them soon.”
Meanwhile, when contacted by Citi News, Thomas Kwame Okrah declined to comment on the matter.
