Plan To Push Atebubu/Amantin DCE Out Intensifies

From Michael Boateng
The machinations to push the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Atebubu/Amantin District out of office has been intensified, following the transfer of the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr. Gariba Issah, to the Asutifi South District.

The PM, until the strange transfer, was working at the district office of the Ghana Education Office as a Budget Officer. A reliable source from the Atebubu/Amantin District Assembly told The Chronicle that Mr. Gariba Issah had refused to sign invitation letters to summon the members to confirm the nominee DCE, Eric Osei, despite pressure mounted on him by National Democratic Congress (NDC) leaders.

The Chronicle was told that Mr. Gariba Issah's refusal to summon the assembly members was based on a District Security Committee (DISEC) meeting held on Friday, April 1, 2016 at Atebubu.   At the said meeting, it was confirmed that though there was seeming calm in the district, the security situation at Atebubu was still fragile.

Based on this observation, the Presiding Member refused to summon a meeting to confirm or reject the nominee DCE till the security situation improves.  Unfortunately, some of the leading members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), who are supporting Sanja Nanja, the incumbent member of Parliament (MP) for the area, have concluded that Mr. Gariba Issah was intentionally delaying the process, because he is against the incumbent Member of Parliament, Sanja Nanja, and rather supporting Mr. Sampson Owusu Boateng, the incumbent DCE, hence his transfer.

Though Mr. Gariba Issah has reported at his new station at Hwidiem as the Budget Officer, there is still another Budget Officer at post by name Emmanuel Frimpong. The Asutifi South District Director was reportedly surprised when she was told that another budget officer had been transferred to her outfit, because the GES had limited offices in the district.

It is alleged that the transfer of Mr. Gariba Issah was engineered by some top NDC officials, including Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. A text message sent to the Minister to react to this allegation was not responded to.

Also reports from the Office of the President indicate that the recent misunderstandings at the Atebubu/Amantin District has become a great worry to the President, but he could do nothing because of the involvement of some heavyweight National Executives of the NDC. Some concerned citizens of Atebubu/Amantin, who spoke to The Chronicle on condition of anonymity, have vowed to resist any attempt to impose on them any person as Chief Executive through foul means.