[ 2017-02-28 ]

Lawyer Asante Boateng

Asante Akim South NPP boils over potential DCEs
Activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the
Asante Akyim South Constituency in the Ashanti
Region have raised red flags over names of
candidates shortlisted to be considered for the
position of District Chief Executive.

Nana Gyeabour, a founding father of the party in
the constituency, is not happy with the situation
where four names turned out to have been submitted
to the party, after the constituency vetting
committee had initially given approval for three
persons.

The aggrieved persons are wondering why the
vetting committee smuggled a fourth person into
the list of nominees.

The Nana Gyeabour-led faction is calling on the
executives to come out with an explanation as to
why a fourth candidate had been added to the three
agreed upon.

According to this group, a candidate like one Alex
Frimpong should not have been shortlisted, because
he was out of touch with the grassroots, having
abandoned his post as the former constituency
research officer of the party to the United
States, following the party’s defeat in the 2012
elections.

The aggrieved party executives also questioned why
Frimpong suddenly deferred his PhD programme in
the USA to vie for the DCE post, even though he
did not contribute towards the electoral success
of the victory of the party in the last
elections.

They have, therefore, appealed to President Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to carefully scrutinise the
backgrounds of the candidates, to avoid a
situation where an opportunist would be appointed
at the expense of the fortunes of the party in the
constituency.

The angry supporters accused the sitting MP of
conniving with some executives to fraudulently
push and lobby for any of these two recruits.

The group said even though not all the executives
are happy with the controversy, they believe the
Member of Parliament for the area, Lawyer Asante
Boateng, was backing them in imposing candidates.

Party faithful from across the district have
threatened to hit the streets if the President
refuses to listen to their concerns.

They stressed that even though the disputed
candidates have maneuvered to be shortlisted, but
they (activists) will do everything possible to
kick against their nomination.

Meanwhile, Constituency Chairman Gilbert Adarkwa
Yiadom has debunked the allegation that favourites
are being shortlisted for consideration for the
post.

He also said the Member of Parliament for the
area, Lawyer Asante Boateng, is not influencing
the nomination and appointment of the DCE in any
way, stressing the President has the prerogative
to appoint a candidate for the position.

Source - TheChronicle.com.gh

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