RESPECT DECISION OF PRESIDENT TO APPOINT DCE — AMPOFO (PAGE 56)

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has appealed to traditional authorities and Ghanaians in general to respect the decision of the President to appoint competent persons as District Chief Executives (DCEs).
He said although the government would consult stakeholders in the nomination and appointment of DCEs, the President reserved the final authority to confirm the appointment of such office holders.
This, he explained, would help facilitate the rapid socio-economic progress of the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
Mr Ampofo made the remark when he paid a courtesy call on the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, Nene Sasraku IV, and his elders at his palace at Krobo-Odumase in the Eastern Region on Tuesday.
The call also afforded him the opportunity to meet and interact with the various heads of departments in the district.
Mr Ampofo’s comment was in reaction to the manner in which traditional authorities and people of the Manya Krobo District had often rejected the nomination and appointment of MDCEs by the government in the past, thus slowing down the development of the area.
According to Mr Ampofo, since he assumed office as the new regional minister, his office had been inundated with countless petitions and recommendations from both traditional leaders and the people of the area seeking the appointment of a number of persons as the DCE for the area.
Such practice, he said, immensely contributed to the delays that were associated with the nomination and appointment of a DCE for area.
Sharing his experience with the people, he recounted how, as a Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, he had to assume the role of a DCE for the area for nearly one-and-a half years due to the rejection by the people of the government’s appointed DCE.
“If we indeed want to see meaningful development of our district, we must collectively resolve to respect the decision of the President in the nomination and appointment of a DCE for this district this time,” he told the traditional leaders and the people of Many Krobo District.
On development of the area, Mr Ampofo expressed worry over the slow pace of development of the district, noting that the district assembly had failed to put up the necessary infrastructure that could attract qualified persons to the area.
“I feel much saddened that after several years of our existence, one travels and comes back only to find the same old structures and environment, a condition we must all help to reverse,” he pointed out.
He, therefore, challenged the district assembly to keep pace with development by coming up with development projects that would befit the status of the area as well as enhance the living conditions of the people.
Mr Ampofo also urged the assembly to ensure transparency in all its dealings with the people, particularly with the disbursement of its common fund.
For his part, Nene Sasraku commended Mr Ampofo for the significant role he played for the betterment of the Krobos in the Fanteakwa District when he was the member of parliament for the area.