Former Ashanti Regional Minister, Ex-DCE Refute Claims Over Missing Fire Tender in Nyinahin
Fire Tender Politics? Ackon and Yeboah Say They’re Victims of Misinformation
- Hon. John Alexander Ackon denied any involvement
- Hon. Stephen Yeboah explained that DCEs don’t control fire service operations
- Both former officials claim the accusations are politically motivated
Two former top officials in the Ashanti Region have strongly denied allegations made by some residents of Nyinahin that they were involved in the removal and alleged relocation of a fire tender meant for the community.
Speaking in separate interviews with Ghana Se Sen on Lawson TV/Radio, the two former officials addressed claims raised by community members during a recent engagement at Nyinahin hosted by Kwame Tanko.
Residents claimed that the fire tender had been taken to Obuasi under the watch of Hon. John Alexander Ackon, the former Ashanti Regional Minister, and Hon. Stephen Yeboah, former District Chief Executive of Atwima Mponua.
In response, Hon. Ackon categorically denied any involvement or knowledge of the matter.
“I absolutely know nothing about it,” he stated. “During my tenure, my deputy Andy Osei Okai and I were in a discussion with the residents when I overheard someone mention that they had taken their fire tender. I immediately called the district fire service and was informed it was a routine exercise.”
He emphasized that he had no interest in the equipment and dismissed suggestions of his involvement as unfounded.
“I don’t need their machines for anything. Never, never, never at all do I know anything about it. I would be very surprised if it didn’t go back. I only came into the discussion midway,” he added.
Ackon further questioned the logic of the accusations.
“How can I say someone will lose their job if they don’t take it? How can I even know the fire tender is there and take it for what? This bad image being put on me must end.”
Hon. Stephen Yeboah, who served as the DCE of Atwima Mponua at the time, also distanced himself from the matter, pointing out the limitations of a DCE’s authority over the Ghana National Fire Service.
“As a DCE, you don’t control the fire service. Your job is to ensure that services are running, not to direct where equipment should go,” he explained.
He noted that the relocation of the fire tender was executed by the chief fire officer in the district and that a replacement vehicle was brought in and fully operational at the time.
“It’s not the first time such accusations have been made against me. Some people are using this issue for political gains, especially from the NPP side,” he alleged.
Both former officials have called for an end to what they described as politically motivated attacks and misinformation.
They insist that any movement of the fire tender was an operational decision by the Ghana National Fire Service and had no political undertones or interference from their offices.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the fire tender was returned or permanently relocated, but both former officials insist the matter lies with the fire service and not them.
