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In a bold move, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly in Ghana’s Eastern Region, Hon Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, has recovered GH¢67,900 allegedly embezzled by three senior staff members.
Barely two months into his tenure, DCE Lawer, a long-serving assembly member, uncovered financial discrepancies in the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) .
An internal audit revealed that the District Finance Officer (DFO), Accounts Officer, and Revenue Superintendent allegedly misappropriated funds from last year through early 2025. When the DCE invited the trio to his office on July 15, 2025, for questioning and demanded three General Counterfoil Receipt (GCR) booklets, the DFO refused to comply. This led to the DCE locking them in his office and calling in the police.
The swift action resulted in the recovery of the missing GH¢67,900, broken down as follows:
– Revenue Superintendent: Refunded GH¢5,800
– Accounts Officer: Returned GH¢27,600
– District Finance Officer: Withdrew GH¢34,500 from his personal account in Koforidua under police escort
The recovered amount has been paid into the Assembly’s main account. Police investigations are ongoing.
DCE Emmanuel Kwasi Lawer reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, pledging zero tolerance for corruption. He announced plans for a comprehensive audit to uncover and recover any further losses .
