Rejected Juaben MCE nominee bailed after arrest over bribery claims

The rejected Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) nominee for Juaben, Alex Sarfo Kantanka, has been granted police inquiry bail after his arrest for allegedly bribing some assembly members.

A statement from the police, dated November 2, said the nominee who was arrested on Monday was released after a caution statement was taken from him.

The nominee has been surrounded by controversies after he obtained just six votes out of 26 in the first round of voting. On his second attempt, he got only 10 votes out of the 26.

His failure to secure the endorsement degenerated into verbal exchanges between him and some assembly members, shown in secret videotaping that made the rounds on social media.

In the viral video, the disappointed nominee was seen hurling insults and curses at some individuals believed to be assembly members for accepting his money but refusing to vote for him as the substantive MCE for the area.

In some instances, he was demanding a refund of monies paid to them for his endorsement.

The nominee is alleged to have paid an amount of GH¢5,000 to each of the 26 assembly members.

The matter went before the Juaben Omanhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe, who is also the Council of State chairman, for an amicable solution.

After the meeting with the Omanhene and what seemed like an amicable solution of differences, the assembly members insisted on their earlier position at a press conference they organised to explain why they will not endorse Mr Kantanka.

Police officers in the municipality have since commenced investigations into the alleged bribe payments to ascertain the truth of the matter.

It assured that anyone found culpable will be arrested and dealt with since no one was above the law.

Below is the statement from the police