Tension engulfs Savelugu ahead of DCE ballot

Security has been fortified at Savelugu as tension hovers the community ahead of a process to confirm the embattled Municipal Chief Executive nominee today.

Soldiers with armoured vehicles and police with teargas have been deployed to the municipal capital where angry youth staged interminable street demonstrations burning party installations and blocking roads in response to what they say is president Akuffo Addo’s disrespect for local party executives and the traditional authority by imposing “a stranger”, Hajia Aisha Seidu as Savelugu – Nonton Municipal Chief Executive.

Political tensions have risen particularly in the municipality when the president named Hajia Seidu, a hospital executive to represent him in the municipality, where felonies are now being committed by minors. The district has two constituencies with thousands of residents. It has no court, slowing prosecutions.

The youth have argued the nominee is not known in the municipality and not a registered voter. They claim she has never contributed either in cash or kind towards progress of the party to any constituency executive who were the core during the DCE selection process.

They therefore demanded the president to name a replacement and vowed to continue rioting without until he yelled.

The president unfazed by the actions of the youth, refused to act on the request and reportedly instructed the regional minister to go ahead and ensure a fair and transparent process for members of the assembly to decide the fate of his Municipal Chief Executive pick.

And on Friday when reports swelled that the regional minister would be leading a team to the hot-spot to carry out orders of the presidenton Saturday, the youth issued a combative statement threatening to resist attempts to “rig the election” in favour of the nominee.

The statement issued by convener of the NPP youth wing said no amount of intimidation by security forces would smashed their resolve to fight the political mistake allegedly orchestrated Chairman Bugri Naabu and Local government minister Hajia Alima Mahama.

“Furthermore, we have gathered intelligence from credible sources that, the regional executives in collaboration with the regional minister are plotting and masterminding crooked, malicious and malevolent means to rig the elections in favour of Hajia Aisha. We want to state unequivocally that, such means adopted by the regional team to rig the elections in favour of Hajia Aisha Seidu will be met with stiff resistance from the Party youth and the general public in Savelugu”, the statement signed by Abdul Karim Zakariah warned.

The Municipal Police Commander ASP Peter Tawiah confirmed the Friday evening deployment saying a special security arrangement have been made after series of Municipal Security Council meeting.

According to the him a patrol team has been dispatched to some notable locations in Savelugu and added they would deal with people who intend disrupting tomorrow’s event.

ASP Tawiah said people who were not directly involved in the process would not be allowed access to the hall. He advised residents to be law abiding and allow a peaceful event tomorrow.

A total of 64 members of the assembly including government appointees is expected to confirm or disapprove Hajia Aisha Seidu whose appointment has been met with implacable resistance largely from the youth and covertly backed some traditional authorities.