RESIDENTS OF BA WAIT PREZ'S NOMINATION (PAGE 15)

A cross-section of Sunyani residents, the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, have expressed worry about the non-inclusion of the region in terms of the nominations of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (M/MDCEs) announced early this week.
According to them, they do not understand the delay in the release of those nominated for approval by the various assemblies because the region was the second to vet those who applied for the job after the Ashanti Region had concluded its vetting for the M/MDCEs.
Some of the interviewees, however, said they were patiently waiting to see those who would get the nod.
They further stated that the delay might be as a result of people pulling strings to field their favourites against the will of the majority.
They said even though the Presidency had the sole prerogative in the appointing chief executives for the various assemblies, they would not forgive any ‘misjudgement’ on the part of the appointing authority, adding that the right thing should be done to ensure peace and commitment in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Some supporters of the NDC were of the view that only committed, dedicated, development oriented and competent members should be appointed to execute the government’s agenda.
They threatened that if the right thing was not done, the mayhem that characterised the earlier announcement of appointees could be repeated in the Brong Ahafo Region.
This is because the delay has fuelled the perception that those that were pencilled for the position after the vetting might not get the job because some power brokers want to play ‘last minute chest game’.
Mr Kofi Ankyera, Tano North NDC Constituency Secretary, for his part, said “we were expecting that party faithful who are dedicated and committed would be given the nod”.
He stated further that it was on that basis that the vetting committees were set up and those who were vetted and shortlisted for the positions were appointed.
“If these principles were followed then we do not expect that those violent protests that were witnessed in some places in connection with the announcement of the President’s nominees would occur in the region.”
Mr Kofi Adu-Gyamfi Kumaning, a public servant, said the only problem he had was the delay in announcing those who had been nominated by the President for approval by the various assemblies in the region.
He stated that he did not understand why some people should protest against the President’s choice of nominees for the post because the President would be held responsible for the decisions of the team he selects to ‘play’ in his government.
Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane-Agyei, the former DCE for Tano North, said those to be nominated should be well known in their constituencies and the reason why the announcement had attracted protest was that those named were not known.
He added that the genuine concerns raised by the protestors should be considered by the appointing authority in order to restore peace, but if those protests were being instigated by any of the interested parties who did not get the nod or a community, it should be ignored.