Tamale youth Association call for replacement of MCE

Tamale, June 17, GNA - The Concerned Youth Association of Tamale, a Tamale based pressure group, has called for the immediate replacement of Mr Mohammed Amin Anta, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) citing inefficiencies under his administration.

Briefing the media at Tamale on Tuesday, Mr Salifu Abass, President of the Association said it would be an abdication of their duty as patriotic citizens of the Metropolis, if they continued to gloss over very serious lapses in the performance of the MCE.

He said the streetlights project, which was part of the beautification programmes in the Metropolis in the run-up to the CAN-2008, was delayed and done at the eleventh hour leaving some poles without lamps.

Mr Abass said for several months, the traffic light system, which was so crucial in the control of accidents within the Metropolis, had broken down and the MCE has looked on unperturbed. He said several structures, which were put in place to commemorate the Ghana's 50th Independence Anniversary had been left uncompleted and mentioned the "Jubilee Park" as an example.

The President of the group said the Tamale Assembly Hall Complex, which was started by the NDC government has been left uncompleted. He said a decongestion exercise, which, was recently organised by the MCE in the central part of the Metropolis, was an attempt by him to evacuate people to make way for others to occupy the same place. He also accused the MCE for suspending the monthly executive meeting of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for the past three months in spite of the crucial role the committee plays in the administration of the Metropolis.

Mr Abass said filth has engulfed the Metropolis saying; "Refuse containers provided at vantage points in the Metropolis are left uncollected when they get full.

"In fact, the Metropolis is in danger of a cholera epidemic should the situation remains, especially with the onset of the rains", he said. Mr Abass said the MCE recently went to the palaces of some chiefs and issued threats to the effect that, he would not hesitate to effect their arrest should any fight occurred in their respective areas and said by that action the MCE had insulted the chiefs. He also stated that, during the rainstorm that hit the Metropolis last year, huge relief items and financial support had been given by the government and some NGOs to support the victims and alleged that many households did not benefit from the relief items. Mr Abass said: "In view of these reasons, the Association found him morally unqualified to continue as the MCE for the Metropolis". 18 June 08