Protests against Mahama's nominees condemned

The recent protests and agitations by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth against President John Mahama’s nominees of Chief Executives for some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, are acts of indiscipline of the highest order.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, who issued the caution, said that the action of the youth must not be entertained, and reminded Ghanaians that the president has the prerogative to select and appoint chief executives for all the areas in the country.

Mr Sarpong said the president would not be daunted by the demonstrations and agitations.

The regional minister made the remarks when he met heads of department and senior staff of the Effutu Municipal Assembly, as part of his one-day working tour of the area.

He advised heads of departments, ministries and agencies, against meddling in chieftaincy disputes.

Mr Sarpong said civil servants are required to remain neutral in such issues in order not to be disrupted, but to help propel the development of their areas.

He cautioned workers against lateness and absenteeism, and said that those who might fall foul of the law would not be spared.

Mr Sarpong said the president had asked all ministers to sign a performance agreement that would require them to work assiduously to ensure progress.

As part of his tour, the minister inaugurated classroom blocks for Winneba Presby Primary and the Ntakofam M/A Primary and Information and Communication and Technology Centre in the Winneba East Education Circuit.

Mr. Sarpong and his entourage, including the Deputy Regional Minster, Queenstar Pokuaa Sawyerr, also paid a courtesy call on the Omanhen of the Effutu Traditional Area, Nenyi Ghartey VII at his palace, to introduce himself (minister) to the Traditional Council.

He gave the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would work with the chiefs to solve chieftaincy disputes in the area amicably.

Mr Sarpong expressed worry that such disputes were undermining the development of the people, and cited the effects on the celebration of the Aboakyir festival as an example.

Nenyi Ghartey regretted that though there was peace in the area, chieftaincy disputes emerged only when the Aboakyir festival was about to be celebrated.

The chief pledged that the Traditional Council would work with Mr Sarpong for the development of the area.

Earlier, the minister did not give audience to some NDC youth who had gathered at the entrance of the Municipal Assembly Office, to protest against the nomination of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Nii Ephraim, as the MCE of Efutu.

In a related development, Nii Ephraim said that the Efutu Municipal Assembly qualified for the Functional Organization Assessment Tool (FOAT) last two years, and it would work harder to sustain the achievement.