JAK Warns DCEs Over moves to pull down MPs

The president, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, has warned district chief executives (DCEs) and others who are aspiring to be members of parliament (MPs), not to undermine their MPs, especially where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sitting MPs.

He stated that whilst MPs are there to serve the nation and the government in various capacities, there is the tendency for others at the local level to undermine them to score political points.

The President said this when he addressed DCEs at the just-ended emergency national conference of DCEs at Nkawkaw in the Kwahu South district of the Eastern Region.

He said any DCE or NPP member who indulges in such acts is a saboteur to the party's forward march to victory in the 2004 elections.

"Do not use your stay with the people and various government projects to promote yourselves at the expense of the MPs who are performing national duties in Accra and elsewhere," he warned.

The president further urged DCEs not to ignore party executives but to liaise with them in most of the activities at the local level to ensure good governance and speedy development, adding that they should not to do anything to split votes in the 2004 elections.

The president also advised the DCEs not to act in isolation but always consult the appropriate authorities in the assembly and adhere to laid down rules and regulations in the local government act.

He warned that any DCE who fails to act according to the laid down regulations and indulges in corruption, bullying and any act to tarnish the image of the government would not be spared.

The president expressed sadness about the situation in Dagbon and called on all stakeholders to help solve the problem in the area.

He said because of the problem, elections to district assemblies and unit committee there have not been possible, describing it as very unfortunate and detrimental to development.

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Kwadwo Agyei Darko, said there was the need to review the current acts and laws involving decentralsation to meet the current state of affairs and aspirations.

He mentioned a particular the need for greater involvement of traditional rulers in governance at local levels.

He disclosed that six district assemblies would be elevated to municipal status whilst new districts would soon be created to ensure accelerated development.

He urged the DCES to put in extra efforts to justify their appointments.

The deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Gustar Narh Dometey, reminded the DCEs, whom he described as frontline officers in the implementation of programmes and projects, of the herculean task ahead of them with the 2004 elections just around the comer. He said there are many hurdles before them and unless they strategically plan well to overcome them, they should not relax.

He called on the DCEs to use the conference to devise pragmatic ways to consolidate the gains the government has chalked so far.

The Kwahu South district chief executive, Mr. Raymond Osafo Djan, mentioned a number of projects, made up of schools, markets and roads among other social amenities, which have been or are being undertaken by the government in the area. He invited investors to invest in the Kwahu area.