You’re disrespectful – Chiefs descend on Yilo MCE

Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo, Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor was on Saturday 23, November 2019 subjected to a baptism of fire by the Paramount Chief of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area for his perceived disrespect for the chiefs and people of Yilo Krobo.

The Konor of Yilo Klo Traditional Area, Nene Oklepeme Nuer Anorbaa Sasraku II, speaking on behalf of other chiefs and the people, accused the assembly chief of insolence, particularly towards traditional leaders and the people in general.

He was speaking during this year’s Kloyosikplemi festival under the theme, “Thy kingdom come for the uplifting of Yilo.

The livid Konor recalled several complaints of disrespect exhibited by the Akuffo-Addo appointee, adding that God was the ultimate judge if the people had no power over his insolent attitude towards them.

“My chiefs say you are disrespectful, the people say you don’t respect them,” said the chief. “When they come to your office [with a problem] you tell them, I will do it if I want to or will not do it if I like and nobody can do anything to me. I want to tell you that if nobody can do anything to you, God can do something to you.”

The Paramount Chief reminded Mr. Kupualor that the people of Yilo Krobo agreed to his assumption of office as MCE for the area because they loved him and urged him to reciprocate the love by working with the people.

The chiefs, he added, are peaceful people and cautioned the MCE not to listen to ill-advice from people.

“As chiefs, we resort to peaceful resolution of issues and not violence. If you’re being ill-advised by people, tell them they are ill-advising you,” he said.

Nene Oklepeme Nuer Anorbaa Sasraku II also regretted that several calls on the assembly and MCE to honour government’s obligation to pay monthly allowances to the chiefs have fallen on deaf ears.

He accused the MCE and other officials of the assembly of taking home weekly allowances of Ghc 25000 each in addition to drinks and water under the pretext of catering for guests while denying chiefs similar privileges as they equally undertake similar expenses.

“As an MCE [and officials of the assembly], every week on Fridays, you take Ghc 2500 in addition to drinks and water under the pretext of looking after guests. We equally account for guests and you must honour this obligation to the chiefs also,” he demanded.

Even before the MCE could present his gifts towards the organization of the festival, the Paramount Chief cautioned him that the chiefs will not accept the “peanut” of Ghc 3000 he presented to them in 2018, adding that nothing less than Ghc 20000 would be accepted.

He charged Mr. Kupualor to provide adequate information on Yilo Krobo’s share of the one district, one factory project as well as put tolls collected from traders to good use by improving the lots of the markets.

The chief meanwhile, called for unity among the chiefs and people of the area and extended a hand of friendship to the Aklobeto and Ologo families in yilo krobo.

“We need unity in Yilo Krobo so I’m calling on Ologo, Aklobeto, Adjado, Manye Korlekuor and the chiefs to leave the past behind and let us unite because Yilo is lagging behind in terms of development,” he told the people.

He also called on the MCE and municipal assembly as well as the security agencies to step in and assist in the peaceful arbitration of all chieftaincy disputes in the area to ensure maximum peace and security.

Responding to the allegations, Mr. Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor denied all the allegations levelled against him by the Paramount Chief.

“I call on the chief to delegate people to come to the assembly to check if they will find any records of the MCE [or any official] going home with an amount of Ghc 2500 every week. I have not taken any weekly allowance home since I took office,” he said.

The assembly boss explained that though Yilo Krobo was yet to get its share of the 1D1F, he personally facilitated a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the assembly and the International Water Management Institute with funding from the government of The Netherlands to put up an organic fertilizer and briquette factory at Akorley which is due to be completed in February, 2020.

He also assured the chief that the University of Environmental and Sustainable Development was duly completed and which commissioning will be done in December by the President, Nana Akuffo Addo in December, 2019 with the assurance that local hands will be employed in the 3000 job opportunities to be provided by the facility.

Construction works on the municipal hospital, he added, is also 65% complete with its commissioning scheduled for April, 2020.

The MCE however said he was prepared to engage the chiefs to iron out all concerns and allegations made by the chiefs as well as any differences that may exist between the Traditional Council and the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, denying that there was any rift between the two bodies.

Mr. Kupualor in the end presented some items and an amount of Ghc 10,000 to support the festival with the promise to present an additional amount in due course.