Asante Akim South NPP boils over potential DCEs

Activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asante Akyim South Constituency in the Ashanti Region have raised red flags over names of candidates shortlisted to be considered for the position of District Chief Executive.

Nana Gyeabour, a founding father of the party in the constituency, is not happy with the situation where four names turned out to have been submitted to the party, after the constituency vetting committee had initially given approval for three persons.

The aggrieved persons are wondering why the vetting committee smuggled a fourth person into the list of nominees.

The Nana Gyeabour-led faction is calling on the executives to come out with an explanation as to why a fourth candidate had been added to the three agreed upon.

According to this group, a candidate like one Alex Frimpong should not have been shortlisted, because he was out of touch with the grassroots, having abandoned his post as the former constituency research officer of the party to the United States, following the party’s defeat in the 2012 elections.

The aggrieved party executives also questioned why Frimpong suddenly deferred his PhD programme in the USA to vie for the DCE post, even though he did not contribute towards the electoral success of the victory of the party in the last elections.

They have, therefore, appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to carefully scrutinise the backgrounds of the candidates, to avoid a situation where an opportunist would be appointed at the expense of the fortunes of the party in the constituency.

The angry supporters accused the sitting MP of conniving with some executives to fraudulently push and lobby for any of these two recruits.

The group said even though not all the executives are happy with the controversy, they believe the Member of Parliament for the area, Lawyer Asante Boateng, was backing them in imposing candidates.

Party faithful from across the district have threatened to hit the streets if the President refuses to listen to their concerns.

They stressed that even though the disputed candidates have maneuvered to be shortlisted, but they (activists) will do everything possible to kick against their nomination.

Meanwhile, Constituency Chairman Gilbert Adarkwa Yiadom has debunked the allegation that favourites are being shortlisted for consideration for the post.

He also said the Member of Parliament for the area, Lawyer Asante Boateng, is not influencing the nomination and appointment of the DCE in any way, stressing the President has the prerogative to appoint a candidate for the position.