The Takoradi Circuit Court "A" has remanded Joseph Yaw Baidoo, Assemblyman for Mpaniasa, Bosomrom and Himakrom Electoral Area for allegedly stealing 75 bags of cement and 30 pieces of iron rod belonging to the Ahanta West District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES). The accused, who pleaded not guilty is to re-appear on March 9. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joe Hedidor said in July 2004 Samuel Jonfiah, the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, allocated 80 bags of cement and 30 pieces of iron rod from his share of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the completion of a World Vision abandoned Day Care Centre project at Himakrom. The accused informed Unit Committee Chairmen of Mpaniasa, Bosomrom and Himakrom about the MP's allocation for the project. He collected 100,000 cedis from the Unit Committee Chairman of Bosomrom for the transportation of the items from Agona Nkwanta to Mpaniasa. But the accused supplied only five bags of cement for the Day Care Centre Project and used the remaining 75 bags of cement and the 30 pieces of iron rods for his personal project. Chief Inspector Hedidor said in August 2006, the building committee of Mpaniasa, Bosorom and Himakrom appealed to the Ahanta West District Assembly to take over the Day Care Centre project because people were no longer supporting it with communal labour. He said on hearing of the appeal, the District Directorate of GES asked the accused to return the 75 bags of cement and the 30 pieces of iron rod for the re-allocation to other villages for their projects. Chief Inspector Hedidor said the accused refused to return the items saying that the MP gave the items to him as a gift for campaigning for the removal of the District Chief Executive, Kwesi Biney. A report was made to the police and the accused was arrested and charged with the offence after investigation. Source: GNA