PRESS RELEASE: OSU CLOTTEY NDC YOUTH DISAPPOINTED AT NII ARMAH ASHIETEY’S REMOVAL

13/03/ 0212 - We the concern youth of Osu Clottey wishes to express utmost disappointment in the removal of the honorable Nii Armah Ashietey as Greater Accra Region. We believe the decision was ill-timed, miscalculated and will have a negative impact on the fortunes of the party. The threat of apathy and skirt and blouse voting in the Greater Accra Region is now eminent and palpable. It should be recalled that the letter for the removal of the Greater Accra Region was signed on a holiday 6th of March when the honorable minister was sitting on the high table with the President. A day which was meant to be a joyous day became a rather sad one and we question the motive for his removal on a public holiday

We believe that this singular action has the capability of causing the NDC in the Greater Accra Region. What rational is there behind the removal of the chairman of the Greater Accra Security Council nine months to a general election especially bearing in mind that the 2008 elections was won with just over 40,000 votes. Experience has shown that it takes a long time to settle into office and also command the loyalty and respect of the security apparatus. So the question still remains; Why would you change the chairman of security apparatus in the region especially after steering the affairs for three years.

The honorable Nii Armah Ashietey has done tremendously well more than any Greater Accra Regional Minister in the fourth republic due to the fact that the Greater Accra Region is bedeviled with a lot of problems. We should not forget that Greater Accra has a lots of Chieftency issues. If not for anything at all, the Minister has kept the Region generally peaceful in spite of the threat of the numerous Chieftency issues. It should be recalled the excellent manner he handled the Ga Mashie Chieftaincy issue which needed experience and a cool head to maintain the peace and stability we all enjoy. Any degeneration of this could have brought governance to a standstill since Accra is the seat of government. Again the La people celebrated Homowo for the first time in 14 years due to the tact's in which he handled the chiefs. The chiefs have warmed up to him. The issue and incidence of and threats of land guards have been drastically reduced. All this were achieved against the backdrop that he had no deputy Minister. During this time he also had oversight responsibility over the Weija District because they had no District Chief Executive.

He also kept the momentum of the party in the Region vibrant. During a time when foot soldiers went rampant everywhere, Greater Accra was spared this agony. He recently won the mandate of has constituency for a second term on a landslide an act that shows the confidence of the people in him even though some Ministers still at post had lost their seats and are still at post. Calls are already coming to us expressing a gargantuan disappointment in his removal and the threat of apathy in the Presidential election is now palpable. It should be noted that the NDC is a grass root party and any disaffection among the grass roots can be dangerous to the fortunes of the party.

We however know the people who have been behind his removal since his appointment as Regional Minister. The NDC is not a monecratic party like the NPP so it's unfortunate that some people have been allowed to be influenced by money. Though it is true that these financiers of the party play an important role, they should recognize that it takes more than money to win an election. We are therefore pleading with the President to see reason and rescind has decision or elevate the Regional Minister to a cabinet Minister to forestall the disaffection that has already begun with some even threatening to boycott the elections all together.

Contact: Richmond Ababio
The Operations Director
0244157711 or 0277064382