Muslim Chiefs, Imams and people leaving in Zongo communities in the Ashanti region are holding the neck of the Mahama-led administration for not considering any of their kinsmen for positions in his government so far, despite decades of loyalty.
According to them, since the President failed to appoint any of their able and competent ‘men’ for some of the parastatal institutions or ministerial positions, he must give them their share by appointing some of them as ambassadors.
The Chiefs and Imams expressed this grave concern at a recent meeting with the former National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and executives of the party who were in the region on an outreach to solicit views of members of the party for its intended constitutional amendment.
They said persons from the Zongo Communities, particularly the Asawasi constituency, have contributed immensely to the ruling party in diverse capacities and as such they expected some of them to be appointed as ministers or appointed to boards, adding that “now that we have lost all that, we want the President to appoint some of them as ambassadors.”
“After the elections, we expected the President to nominate some of our able and competent men as ministers or appoint some of them to boards, but that didn’t happen...now that he has finished with that, we know the president is yet to appoint ambassadors and we want him to consider some of our people such as Professor Lukman, Mr. Musah Ahmed, Dr. Abdul Aziz Basit Bamba, Alhaji Ishaaq Nuamah and others,” the Muslim leaders told the former National Organizer and his entourage.
Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, also a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, assured the Chiefs and Imams of the President’s resolve to ensure that no one is marginalized, and said he will convey their concerns to the President.
Throwing more light on the issue, the deputy propaganda secretary of the ruling party in the Asawasi constituency, Yakubu Adamu, also known in political circles as Yakubu Tony Aidoo, told The Al-Hajj that prior to meeting the former Local Government Minister’s entourage and the regional executives, there was a consensus among the Chiefs, Imams and people of the Zongo communities in the region to demand their share of the national cake in terms of appointments from the ruling party.
He said “So far, apart from the MCE for Asokore Mampong Municipal Council, no other personality from the Asawasi Constituency has been given any appointment. It is in the light of this dangerous neglect that the Chiefs, Imams and people of the Zongo communities are calling on the President and government to consider some of our people for ambassadorial position.”
According to him, lots of competent people from the Asawasi constituency just like their colleagues in other constituencies have served the party to the best of their abilities but have not been considered for any position in the current government.
“Comparison can be made of Prof. Lukman for instance who was the vice chairman of the NDC in the United States. He is now back home with no appointment at all. Meanwhile, his other colleagues in the United States and elsewhere in Europe like Albert Oko Vanderpuije (AMA Boss), Alex Segbefia (Branch Chairman-NDC Ireland and Britain and former deputy Chief of Staff under Prof Mills), have been rewarded for their efforts. Ebby Conney, former Chairman of NDC-USA is now CEO-Trade Fair, Max Kobina now State Insurance Company Board Chairman, Ameyaw Sandy just to mention a few. Regretfully, Prof. Lukman happens to be the only man without any portfolio as of now,” he added.
