Two personalities, the Local Government Minister, Honourable Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu and the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Narh Dometey, are being accused by the Lower Manya Constituency Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of shielding shady practices in the nomination of a District Chief Executive (DCE).
Zero tolerance for corruption by President John Agyekum Kufuor is a mirage if underhand means is used to select a DCE, an executive member of the youth summed up.
The youth leadership in an interview with this paper blamed Honourable Baah- Wiredu for deliberately imposing the President's nominee, Mr. Andrews Teye as the DCE, against the background that his very party members in the district do not favour him.
According to the aggrieved party loyals, petitions and emissaries they sent to the Local Government Minister to protest against Mr. Andrews Teye's nomination were received casually. "Honourable Baah-Wiredu should imagine this is happening to the district of his constituency when for the past seven months, assembly activities have grounded to a halt", one of the executive members quizzed.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Narh Dometey is alleged to have rather sided with Mr. Andrews Teye, whose nomination became a bone of contention. The Deputy Minister, who hails from the Manya Krobo District and is the acting DCE, is also accused of unofficially using Mr. Teye to perform assembly duties.
Asked why they would not go to the assembly and disapprove of the President's nominee, the leadership who want to remain anonymous alleged that the assembly members have already been prepared to approve of Mr. Teye's appointment.
A little over a fortnight ago, the youth were deceived into thinking that the matter was going to be resolved peacefully and so an injunction placed at the Koforidua High Court was withdrawn. The following day, letters went round for assembly members to converge at the assembly premises to approve or disapprove of the President's nominee.
Heavily armed police personnel were rushed to the compound and when word got to the youth of the impending plan, another injunction was filed at the Koforidua High Court and before proceedings could begin, the District Electoral Officer was served with another injunction.
Honourable Baah-Wiredu was not immediately available for his comment but an official source from the Local Government Ministry hinted that, there is the likelihood that the President's nominee, Mr. Andrews Teye will not be withdrawn and that it is a waste of time to continue to battle the case in court.
According to him, if the youth agree for the election, provision will be made towards that. Mr. Narh Dometey, on his part, said that he supports anybody the President, who has the sole responsibility to appoint a DCE, comes out with. He stated that any move that will bring peace to the district will enjoy his backing.
Our investigation revealed that, the situation is as volatile as one could think of as the traditional council is getting impatient with the trend of events, more so when the Chief Executive's nomination has been married to the chieftaincy dispute between the people of Odumase Dorm clans.
Interestingly, the traditional council and the youth have merged to fight the alleged fraud in the submission of application that saw Mr. Dema Nartey, a failed parliamentary hopeful's name dropped at Koforidua.
Public-spirited citizens our reporter spoke to are of the view that the Kufuor government with zero tolerance for corruption as its watchword should heed the youth's call for an investigation into the alleged fraud.
Without a presiding member and a substantive DCE appointed, the Manya Krobo District Assembly remains without a head since Captain Hammond was relieved off his post a couple of years ago.
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