NPP supporters up in arms against the national leadership

Polling station executives and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ejisu-Juaben have expressed fury and strong opposition to what they claim to be moves by the party’s national leadership to get Madam Serwaah Derchie appointed as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

They insist the woman is unknown to them and made zero contribution to the party’s election success in the municipality.

Addressing journalists after they had defied heavy rainfall to protest on the streets of Ejisu, Ms. Bridget Akosa Antwi, their Spokesperson, vowed fierce resistance of any attempt to force her on the area.

“We would like to state unequivocally that we would not be disrespected or ignored.”

She said “we do not want to believe that Ejisu-Juaben lacks equally loyal, capable, trusted, resourceful and qualified people for that office”.

She added that “if for whatever reason the leadership of the party is eager to reward her with DCE appointment, it is only reasonable to assume that the right place, should be Sekyere East, her district”.

Ms. Antwi said they found it difficult to rationalize why anybody would want to stir trouble - cause resentment among the rank and file of the party, the chiefs and people by taking such an unpopular decision.

“We have no doubt that this would even upset the constituency officers. They would be unable to publicly voice their disappointment but deep within them, they would be hurt.”

She indicated that it was always prudent for leaders to listen to the “very people they are leading”, adding that, this was how they could continue to sustain their trust and carry them along with them.

Ms. Antwi said “we fought hard and made sacrifices to bring the NPP to power and we remain unwavering in our determination to ensure that the government puts its right foot forward”.

Separately, the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider persons with disability (PWDs) in his ongoing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) appointments.

This adds to the earlier call by the Ghana Federation of Disabled Organizations (GFD).

A press statement signed by the President of the Society, the Reverend John Mefful, said “fortunately, these two members, Mr. Kwaku Ntim Twumasi – Ejisu-Juaben Municipal, and Mr. Martin Obeng, Sunyani West, have expressed interest and successfully undergone vetting at the Flagstaff house”.

It noted that there were about five million PWDs among the nation’s 28 million population and said out of 216 MMDCEs required, only the pair had the chance to be part and could therefore not be denied.

“We are appealing to the President to consider Mr. Twumasi and Mr. Obeng for Ejisu-Juaben and Sunyani West, respectively, which has come to our notice and others which we are yet to know for the All Inclusiveness to be realized in your governance.”