Western region lacks political leadership - Dr. Afriyie

Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kweku Owusu Afriyie, has bemoaned the lack of political leadership in the region to champion the cause of the people and development.

He says the lack of political leadership across all the political divide, has affected the sense of direction of the region.

He was speaking in an interview with journalists after the rejection of some of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives nominated by President Akufo-Addo.

According to the Minister, the rejection of the nominees was as a result of the lack of political leadership in the region to influence decision-making at the highest level.

He said even though the assembly concept was supposed to be non-partisan, Assembly Members continue to blackmail nominees. He, therefore, fully backed calls for the election of MMDCEs in the near future.

“This thing is baffling. We all say it shouldn't be political, but if we are honest to ourselves and honest to God, we will see that everything being done is political”.

According to the Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Wiaso Constituency, instead of pretending that Assembly Members engage each other on non- partisan grounds, government should hasten the process of making the Assembly elections partisan, because the non-partisan clause only existed on paper.

“For me, Kwaku Afriyie, I am emphasising that the process be made partisan. I support the idea of making the local elections partisan”.

He, however, explained that for now the Local Government Act (Act 642) will not allow that to happen until the review of the process and repeal of the law.

Dr. Afriyie said it baffles him that the Assemblies have put aside the law, and continue to engage in partisan conduct at the local level whilst stakeholders still considered the Assemblies as non-partisan institutions.