What Went Into The Decision To Reject An Accomplished Scholar And True Patriot Like Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah as MCE For Sunyani East in 2017?

'Laying the Facts Bare'

The current culture of segregation and divisiveness that is fast festering within the ranks of the Sunyani East NPP and by extension the Bono Kukrudu fraternity could have been prevented from the outset.

The bizarre happenings that have flooded the media space and have characterized the NPP in the Sunyani enclave in recent times has a historical underpinning, and the historicity of every event must be kept intact as it proffers valuable lessons moving forward in this political enterprise.

In his bid to contribute his immense quota towards the sustainable growth and development of Sunyani East and by large extension the entire Bono region and Ghana as a whole, the incorruptible and venerable *Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah* availed himself to serve Sunyani East as its Municipal Chief Executive. He accordingly navigated through the bureaucratic procedures clearly spelt out by the party and thus fulfilled

all the necessary requirements demanded of an individual who aspires to become an MCE.

Sadly, there was a deliberate attempt that emanated from the powers that be within the region at the time, to frustrate him at every phase of the MCE selection process to ensure he is not made the Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani East for reasons best known to them.

There were plethora of noxious, vicious, malicious and despicable lies and propaganda against his person which ensured that the MCEship went to the other side.

How can a party which prides itself with high powered intellectualism thwart the spectacular efforts of such a brilliant brain who had all it took to put Sunyani Municipality and the Bono region on a high pedestal by sacrificing his MCE dream on the altar of unfounded pettiness.

The beneficiary of this grande scheme has risen to become a regional minister and today we are all witnessing a terrible friction between her and the majority chief whip. Ironically, the majority chief whip was one of the stalwarts who rooted for her to become an MCE, which invariably armed her with the mileage to rise to become the regional minister.

The current impasse between the regional minister and the Majority Chief Whip and the disheartening revelations emanating from the later has sordidly subjected the Bono regional NPP to unnecessary public ridicule. This is an affront to the integrity of the Danquah-Busiah-Dombo tradition as we are not noted for the depths of corruption over the indiscriminate and illegal sale of lands currently on-going.

Of course, it would be a complete waste of my precious intellectual energy if I fail to state categorically without any equivocation or fear of contradiction that Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah would have been a better MCE and a far better regional minister than what Bono region is currently experiencing.

Particularly, all this unnecessary tension, friction and the depths of corruption flying around could have been prevented if he was made MCE from the outset because he overly qualified for that position.

For the benefit of political novices, let me give a brief description of this spectacular gentleman I'm extolling his virtues.

Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah is the current Executive Director (CEO) for the Center for Plant Medicine Research. Today, it is a centre of excellence due to his demonstrable competence and impeccable track records. He recently received an award as one of the top 10 CEOs in the Pharma Industry in Ghana during the 2020 Pharma Awards recently held due to the massive role he played in the fight against COVID-19. The Mampong-Akuapim Traditional Council has enormously honored him due to the massive transformation the Centre for Plant Medicine Research has attained under his able leadership. His credibility and level of competence are unmatched and incalculable as evidenced above.

This is the sort of leadership and competence the Sunyani East Municipal Assembly as well as the Regional Coordinating Council deserved and not the sort of incompetence we have witnessed in this direction.

My solid conviction in the preceding paragraphs is further strengthened by his other laurels.

Undeniably, the economy of Bono is mostly agrarian (agriculture-based), and looking at his background in Rural Extension Studies from the University of Guelph where he conducted spectacular agricultural researches, he would have been a solid pivot to spin the agricultural fortunes of the Bono enclave in an upward trajectory.

Sunyani East and by extension Bono region has been bedeviled with sanitation issues, and since he is a Community Development expert he would have prescribed the suitable antidote to remedy this canker by now.

But not for ill-intent who would bypass such an internationally accomplished scholar for the position of a Municipal Chief Executive or Regional Minister?

Going forward, as a party we must endeavor to support the right individuals to serve in various capacities and therefore eschew pettiness. There should be an equal playing field for all persons aspiring to serve in various capacities. And the selection should be based on high credibility and not because some powers want them there. Because such appointees often times end up being detrimental to the fortunes of the party as we are all seeing today. This assertion is highly consolidated by the aforementioned paragraphs.

Long Live the Great Kukrudu Fraternity!