NDC footsoldiers chase out 2 DCEs

Incensed youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region went on rampage on Tuesday night after storming the residence of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Robert Fokuo, in a bid to beat him up.

The DCE was however not at home at the time, but the marauding youth, who were said to be wielding dangerous weapons and determined to teach the President's representative a bitter lesson, allegedly vandalized the house and beat the DCE's watchman, Kwame Appiah; after seizing his mobile phone and wrist-watch.

Three terrified children of the DCE, who hid to escape the wrath of the attackers, managed to call the police.

This led to the arrest of four foot-soldiers who were identified as Kingsley Ennin, District National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) Coordinator, who is also the Constituency Youth Organizer of the NDC; Evans Yeboah, District NADMO boss: as well as Yaw Bio and Razark Ali, who came from Anwiankwanta to join in the rampage.

Bekwai Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supt. Comfort Boateng who confirmed the incident to Daily Guide, said some members of the group escaped arrest but they would be tracked down to face prosecution.

She confirmed that the unfortunate incident happened around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday at a time Hon. Robert Fokuo was away in Kumasi.

"They forced their way into the house after banging on the main gate until it was opened. They attacked the DCE's security man and later vandalized the place by smashing and breaking louvre blades and doors to the corridor and the main hall," the police boss told journalists.

She disclosed that the gang embarked on the 'operation' with an unregistered motorbike and a taxi cab with registration number AS 6653 X, which were currently in the custody of the police.

Daily Guide gathered that the irate youth were infuriated by a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a market at Jacobu, which the NDC youth had warned the DCE against, because the area was perceived to be a stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NIT).

"The action follows an accusation also that the DCE had failed to help the bid of NDC members that contested the just-ended District Assembly level elections in the area, and the fact that he did not share the funding money of the project with them as party members," one of the sources revealed.

The DCE, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue.

In a related development, The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Mamprusi, Laud Sulley Abudu Zakaria's decision to run out of his district in the early hours of Wednesday January 5, 2011, saved him from being lynched or maimed by some angry foot-soldiers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

But a member of the group warned: "We will chase the DCE anywhere we meet him."

The fuming foot-soldiers, who were wielding sharp implements and clubs, marched, alongside some leading members and constituency executives of the party, through the streets of Walewale, as they chanted war songs and openly insulted the DCE amidst threats that they would cause harm should they meet him in or outside his office.

The angry NDC faithful, numbering over 500, marched to the office of the West Mamprusi District Assembly with the intention of forcing their way into the office of the DCE, Laud Sulley Abudu Zakari, but came against a strong opposition from about 40 armed police officers who had stormed the district from Tamale.

A police source also told Daily Guide that the DCE had lost the support and cooperation of the District Police Management and personnel, due to the continuous humiliation and insults he piled on them. The same applied to other key security personnel in the district.

A petition presented to the District Coordinating Director, Alhassan Ziblim Al-Hassan, for onward submission to the Regional Minister and other stakeholders demanded the immediate removal of the DCE from office.

The party members and executives, in that petition, resolved that the official Nissan Navara pick-up being used by the DCE should be parked before the close of work on January 5, 2011.

Failure to do this, they warned, would result in serious consequences for the party, as the Executives had sworn to withdraw their services until an action was taken against the DCE.

Spokesperson for the group, Sulemana Mutaka, said the various youth groups of the party in the district had been very calm in the face of several provocations and gross disrespect toward the Constituency Executives and other leading members in the West Mamprusi district because of their loyalty to the NDC.

"Mr. Sulley Abudu Zakaria does not deserve to be a leader, nor a representative of a political party, because he does not have the qualities that can attract more followers and to unite them for development. That aside, the man has had problems everywhere he was sent to, as a teacher or headmaster and he has openly disrespected some chiefs in the district. This person cannot lead us to any campaign, due to the bad image he has created for himself, resulting from his mischievous activities at places where he ever served as a teacher and head teacher.

"We have sent some petitions about the behaviour of our DCE and the way he is making the party unpopular in this district, and yet no action has been taken against him. No wonder he goes round bragging that he has bought his position from the regional to the national level of the party."

He alleged that within a short period of being at post, Abudu Zakaria had had so much money that he bragged that if he was removed from office and his official car taken from him, he would buy a new Nissan Navara pickup and also build a mansion in either Kumasi or Accra and relocate there.

"By this, the President and whoever took the decision to put him there should know by now that he does not have the party at heart. We will keep quiet and we will see what will happen to the party in the district in 2012 but before then, we will not allow the DCE to enjoy from our sweat: Yes, we defied all threats and fears and campaigned seriously for the party," the enraged man added in the presence of the demonstrators.

This latest demonstration was the first this year but the second in the district in a matter of less than seven months.

There was a counter demonstration in the same district last year but alarm blew when the organizers soon complained that the OCR had failed to pay them an amount of GH¢2,500 out of a promised GH¢5000 they agreed upon.

Sourc: Daily Guide