DCE Slaps NDC Campaign Manager

Tension is mounting in Pru constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, as National Democratic Congress (NDC) foot-soldiers in the constituency are warming up for a showdown with the District Chief Executive (DCE).

Since the DCE, Massoud Mohamed, assumed office, he has been having issues with the foot-soldiers.

Matters came to a climax when the DCE, who could not bear the heat anymore, vented his anger on one of the party’s campaign managers, Paapa Afagbeji.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the campaign manager said he was on his way to his shop on December 16 2010 when he was accosted by the DCE and a group of irate youth.

He claimed that without any provocation, the DCE got down from his vehicle and gave him two slaps on his face, while the others pounced on him and gave him severe beatings.

Mr. Afagbeji alleged that the DCE, after subjecting him to sever beatings, warned him that he would kill him if he said anything against him.

According to him, the DCE also ordered a group of irate youth to attack his shop and pour petrol on his goods, with the intention of setting the shop ablaze. He added that had it not been for the timely intervention of sympathizers, the whole shop would have been burnt down.

Asked why the DCE wanted to harm him, Mr. Afabgeji, who was on his hospital bed at the St. Mathias Hospital at Yeji, said some time ago, he led a team to arrest four persons who were smuggling premix fuel meant for fishermen, and unknown to him, the DCE had an interest in the case and offered to pay him GH¢500 bribe to ‘kill’ the case but he refused.

The matter, he claimed, was reported to the Yeji Police for investigations, but the DCE allegedly did everything possible to ‘kill’ the case.

He said from all indications, the DCE was seriously involved in the smuggling of premix fuel.

He said it was a known fact in the district that the DCE was reaping huge profits from illegal sale of premix fuel.

The Prang youth chairman of the NDC in the Pru district, Kwabena Solomon, told DAILY GUIDE that the entire youth in the constituency were solidly behind Mr. Afabgeji and warned that unless the DCE was removed from office, the constituency would not know peace.

He also accused the DCE of being arrogant and disrespectful to the constituency executives.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on the issue, the District Police Commander, ASP Anane Amoah Daniel, confirmed the assault case and said the matter was under investigations.

When the DCE was contacted on his cell phone on three occasions, he declined to make any comment on the issue.

On four occasions, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, the Brong Ahafo Regional minister, tried to resolve the issue at Sunyani and Yeji but to no avail.