Jomoro MP, MCE and executives smoke peace pipe

Correspondence from Western Region:

Western Regional parliamentary vetting committee of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has resolved the differences between the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Mr Paul Essien, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Ernest Kofie and the constituency executives of the area.

According to media reports, there has never been peace and unity among constituency executives, the MP and MCE in the Jomoro Municipality since 2017.

The three groups are at each other's throats for marring the party's fortunes in their quest to retain the parliamentary seat for the first time in the political history of Ghana.

It was reported that the MP and MCE both laid claim to some projects in the area.

It will be recalled that the Jomoro Constituency executive committee issued a communique to all party members to dissociate themselves from activities of the MCE and the Assembly.

Following this communique, the party embarked on a mammoth demonstration on August 14, 2019, against the MCE for showing gross disrespect to the leadership of the party and called on President Akufo-Addo to remove him from office.

But a meeting which was held behind closed doors and witnessed by the Western Regional Secretary Charles Bissue, Lawyer Frank Davies among other bigwigs in the party has solidified the base of the party for the upcoming general elections.

According to an insider, the MP, Mr Paul Essien, the MCE, Mr Ernest Kofie and the Constituency Secretary rendered an unqualified apology to the Regional Chairman, Mr Francis Ndede Siah for all the harm caused.

Mr Ndede Siah, a native of Jomoro who spoke to this reporter, admonished the parties to forge ahead in unity to ensure a landslide victory for the party

"We are one people with a common destiny. Due to that it is necessary to live in unity and nothing should be done to tarnish the hard gains made by the Nana-Addo-led administration, he emphasized.

In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent, the Constituency Chairman, Mr Simon Amoah who confirmed the meeting, expressed happiness over the move initiated by the Vetting Committee and a peaceful outcome.

"I want to use your platform to inform all and sundry that the long-lasting dispute which resulted from the misunderstanding between we the Constituency Executives, the MCE and the Regional Chairman has been amicably resolved, we are now one people to retain the parliamentary seat and increase the votes of President Akufo-Addo", he stated.

He cautioned all party members and sympathizers to refrain from exchanging words in public.

"...to prevent such an unfortunate incident from repeating itself, all party members and sympathizers are entreated to be measured in their utterances both on social media and in public", he warned.

"This new path and unity the party is traversing must bond us together to win the 2020 election and never again shall we return to such an unfortunate happening", he added.

"I also on behalf of the Constituency Executive take this opportunity to render an unqualified apology to the Regional Chairman (Francis Ndede Siah) for whatever happened between him and sections of the party supporters during the heat of the rift. I take full responsibility as the Constituency Chairman and ask for his forgiveness and promise to ensure that never again shall this happen in the Constituency", he told GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent.