Effia Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Adam Seidu, has refuted allegations that the sale of scrap materials from an old railway shed inside the Takoradi Port was conducted under shady circumstances.
Responding to claims of his involvement in a deal with scrap dealers in Sekondi-Takoradi, Mr. Seidu stated that the sale was authorized by government officials, including the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL).
In an exclusive interview with Connect 97.1 FM, Mr. Seidu explained that constituency chairmen from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality were invited to a meeting to help identify prospective scrap dealers for an upcoming auction of GRCL materials.
He clarified that the meeting was with a committee that included representatives from the Ghana Railway Company Limited, the Ministry of Transport, and other government officials. According to his account, the committee urged them to assist in selling rail materials, including wagons and rails from selected sites, to raise funds to settle salary arrears for railway workers.
“So, there is nothing shady about what we are doing here. We only secured an opportunity for some of our local dealers,” he added.
Earlier today, National Security operatives halted the scrap metal removal being carried out by a dealer named Alhaji Razak at an old railway shed in the Port of Takoradi. A frustrated Alhaji Razak insisted he had secured the rights to the materials, having paid a fee of GH₵330,000 to the Effia Constituency Chairman under a proposed agreement.
Mr. Seidu confirmed this claim but added that the documentation to authorize Alhaji Razak to remove scraps from the port was not yet complete, which led to the interruption by National Security.
“Razak was getting impatient. He doesn’t understand why they have to wait so long when they’ve paid their fees,” he stressed.
He disclosed that “for the past few weeks, National Security has been guarding the site.”
“…this is because we received intelligence that some Alhaji from Accra was interested in the deal, but we want our people to also benefit,” he added.
In the meantime, the Western Regional Chairman of the NDC, Nana Toku, has issued a disclaimer denying any involvement in the railway material deal.
The scrap dealer, Alhaji Razak, had earlier claimed that the Regional Chairman was aware of the sale. However, the Regional Chairman’s special aide, Eric Kweku Kyeremah, has stated that these allegations are frivolous.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Regional Chairman has not sanctioned, participated in, or benefited from any operation or engagement connected to the disposal or sale of railway materials. Any attempt to link his name to this matter is a deliberate act of mischief aimed at tarnishing his hard-earned reputation and diverting attention from the real issues at hand,” he noted in a press statement.
