Mixed reactions greet rejection of South-Dayi nominee

Kpeve, April 28, GNA - Reactions picked by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the rejection of Mrs Perpetual Annan as District Chief Executive for South-Dayi on Monday were mixed. By 13-4 votes, the 17-member assembly withheld its approval of the nominee.

That was after consultations between Mr Elvis Owusu-Afriyie, the Deputy Minister of Local government and Rural Development and leadership of the assembly, the South-Dayi constituency Executive of the National Democratic Congress and the assembly members. Mr Owusu-Afriyie, who appeared disappointed about the turn of events, served notice that "we are not in the mood to replace nominees" and that the assembly must reflect on the issue. When asked by reporters to explain he said "no comment." Mrs Annan said she was optimistic about her chances in subsequent appearances before the assembly.

The assembly has set a precedent of approving its pioneer District Chief Executive Mrs Woyram Boakye-Danquah of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration whom it initially rejected. On why Mrs Annan was rejected by the assembly, a member of the South-Dayi constituency Executive of the NDC told reporters that she was not among the four short-listed candidates approved at the constituency level and was therefore a stranger who was being foisted on the district.

The source said Mrs Annan deserted the constituency when she failed in her bid to stand as the party's constituency parliamentary candidate in the 2008 election.

One of the assembly members expressed reservations about the rejection of the nominee and said that could have adverse effects on the district for as long as it took to get a DCE for the district. He said any fresh nomination that did not favour his area of the district was bound to be opposed by his colleagues from that part of the district.

Shortly after the results were announced opposing parties mainly youths who had swarmed the area started a fight sparked by taunting but were quickly separated by the police.