Mad Rush For DCE Job

....Over 1,200 apply in 110 districts

MORE than 1,220 people have applied for the positions of chief executives for the 110 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has announced.

He said the government would begin nominating selected candidates for approval by the various assemblies at the end of this month.

Mr Baah-Wiredu was speaking at Assin Jakai in the Central Region at a grand durbar organised by the chiefs and people of Assin in honour of Professor Dominic Fobih, MP for Assin South, on his appointment as the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.

Mr Baah-Wiredu said all district assemblies have been given an ultimatum to elect their presiding members to facilitate the nomination of the DCEs.

On improving the living conditions of the people, he said the government is determined to improve transportation to all parts of the country to alleviate the hardship workers in rural communities, such as nurses and teachers face, adding that this informed the decision to allow the clearance of over-aged vehicles from the ports.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, who also addressed the durbar, expressed concern about chieftaincy and other disputes which, he said, are threatening the unity and development of the area.

He charged the people to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the durbar to bury their differences and work towards accelerated socio-economic development.

Mr Edumadze paid tribute to Prof Fobih who, he said, has led a life worthy of emulation and exhorted parents to see him as a role model for their children and attach importance to their education.

The Paramount Chief of the Assin Attandansu Traditional Area, Nana Tsibu Asare II, urged the people to support the two MPs in the area to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Prof Fobih expressed his gratitude to the chiefs and people of the area for the honour done him and called for unity in the district to enable the people to forge ahead with their developmental goals.

He repeated the call on Ghanaians to be patient with the government and to support it to enable it realise the expectations of the people.

Prof Fobih pledged to ensure that projects such as the extension of water and electricity, rehabilitation of roads and the upgrading of health centres in the area are carried out as soon as practicable.

He urged the youth in the area to take a cue from the achievements of the public officers present and strive to attain such responsible positions in the future.

Prof Fobih was given an honorary title, Nana Assin Osoafo I, in recognition of his appointment.