DCE snubs minister
Potential bad blood is brewing between the District Chief Executive of Manya Krobo, Mr David Sackitey Asare, and his immediate boss, Hon. Yaw Barimah, Eastern Regional Minister, following the latter's blatant rejection of what is considered a simple ministerial advice.
The 'advice from above' was a personal intervention the minister made a fortnight ago, both written and oral, in a development he considered a potential embarrassment to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, the DCE threw caution to the wind and snubbed his boss' counsel.
This was after he had rebuffed similar peaceful interventions from Members of Parliament, Traditional Leaders, and even Executive members of his own party.
Information and materials in possession of Daily Guide indicate that on Saturday, March 17, 2007, a group of drivers mourning the death of a colleague at Agormanya, blocked the road nearby amidst drumming and dancing, demanding tokens from its users.
The story stated further that even though the action was not proper, two MPs in the area, Mike Nyaunu and Amuanor, gave away some money to the youth as an indication of their condolences to the mourning drivers.
When the DCE got to the spot, according to a source, the youth, disappointed at his refusal to give them 'something', threw sachets of water at him.
Six days later, the DCE led a team of policemen to arrest Master John Narteh, who is not a driver, as one of the suspects. He has since remained in prison custody at Akuse.
Hon. Yaw Barimah decided to wade into the matter, after he was briefed that efforts by the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, Nene Sasraku II, and Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko, the Presiding Member of the District Assembly, fell on deaf ears.
On 28th March, the minister wrote: “Hon. DCE, Good Morning. As discussed, I am sending the bearer to you to see about the release of the boy from prison custody.”
However, Sackitey would not budge, saying the minister could not dictate to him. The boy has since remained in custody.
This, according to Daily Guide sources, has caused a lot of stir at the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and some observers have expressed worry that it could dent the cordial relationship between the two.
In a related development, the father of the boy, Mr. Christopher Quarshie, has petitioned the Office of the Chief of Staff over what he described as the DCE's tyrannical attitude, stressing that his actions could have serious repercussions on the NPP.
The petition, dated April 2, 2007, and copied to the Local Government, Rural Development and Environment Minister, stated that “These actions have proved to me that the DCE, Hon. David Sackitey Asare has indeed become a tyrant, having no regard for anybody, not even the President who appointed him, nor the traditional authorities.
I therefore decided to petition your outfit to call this tyrant to order, for his actions and utterances are making people leave the party.”
Source: Daily Guide