Upper Manya Krobo District: DCE locks three staff members at his office, hands them to Police for embezzlement

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly in the Eastern Region, Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, confined three staff members in his office due to accusations of embezzling GH¢67,900, and subsequently reported them to the police.

Just two months after taking office, the District Chief Executive, who has also been a long-serving member of the assembly, identified financial irregularities in the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF).

An internal audit and investigation later indicated that the District Finance Officer, Accounts Officer, and Revenue Superintendent may have misappropriated funds from last year until early 2025.

The DCE has scheduled a meeting with these three officers in his office on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, for questioning.

During the meeting, he requested the submission of three General Counterfoil Receipt (GCR) booklets that are believed to be related to the missing funds.

The DFO did not agree to comply, and the DCE allegedly confined them in his offices and contacted the police. This decisive action resulted in the prompt recovery of GH¢67,900. The details are as follows.

The Revenue Superintendent refunded GH¢5,800, the Accounts Officer returned GH¢27,600, and the DFO, accompanied by police, withdrew GH¢34,500 from his account in Koforidua the following day to finalise the reimbursement. The recovered funds have been deposited into the Assembly’s main account.

Investigations are still underway by the Ghana Police Service. The DCE has promised to end corruption in his reign.