Ejura Committee probe: Withdrawal of MCE malicious — NDC

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejura-Sekyedumase, Mohammed Salisu Bamba

Following the supposed leaked portions of the yet-to-be-released report of the Committee of Enquiry for the Ejura incident, members of the opposition National Democratic Congress have raised concerns about the withdrawal of candidature of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejura-Sekyedumase.

The MCE, Mohammed Salisu Bamba withdrew his application for re-appointment as MCE.

Mr Bamba, who was the first New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ejura, became the MCE after losing his seat in the 2016 parliamentary election.

He has since served as the MCE and had applied for reconsideration as the MCE for the area.

However, in a letter dated July 9, 2021 and addressed through the Ashanti Regional Minister to the Vetting Committee of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives of the Jubilee House, Mr Bamba said he was withdrawing his application for the position.

This the Deputy Youth Organizer of the NDC, Mr. Onassis Kobby has raised concerns over the withdrawal of the candidature of the MCE for reappointment even before the report is yet to be released officially.

Speaking on Prime Morning Show with Daniel Dadzie, Mr. Kobby says it was unfathomable for a sitting MCE to voluntarily decide to redraw his candidature for reappointment, just because of a leaked report which has not yet even been officially disclosed to the general public.

According to him, the action of the MCE presupposes that he may have his hands soiled in the killing of social media activist Mohammed Kaaka Ibrahim.

As part of an agenda to water down the effects of the report, he alleged that higher forces forced him to withdraw his candidature to escape the media scrutiny when the report is finally released to the public.

"I find the actions of the M.C.E incriminating. It is as though he has been privy to the report and because he may have had a hand in the death of Kaaka, they are trying to get him off the hook before proper action can be taken,” he said.

Mr. Onassis also bemoaned what he describes as undue delay by the President to produce a white paper on the report, adding that, the Ejura disturbances was still an issue of public interest that Ghanaians ought to know the content of the report and its outcome.

But article 280(3) of the 1992 constitution allows a period of 6 months for the President to revert with a white paper on the committee’s recommendation.