Chiefs in Kadjebi appeal for change in DCE

The Chiefs of Kadjebi District of the Volta Region have petitioned President John E. A. Mills to reconsider their earlier recommendation on the choice of nominee to the post of District Chief Executive (DCE) to the area.

In a petition signed by chiefs of eight Traditional Areas of the District, and read by Nana Aboagye Prempeh, Regent of Ampeyo, at a press conference on Thursday, they expressed uneasiness at President Mills' nomination to the position of DCE.

The Chiefs in an earlier correspondence dated January 29, 2009, recommended Mr Nicholas Fato, Volta Regional Propaganda Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the position of DCE, but the appointment made by President Mills pencilled Mr Seth Alifui for consideration.

The statement alleged that the nomination of Mr Alifui breaches the mutual accord agreed on by Chiefs in relation to the geo-politics of the area.

It said “we take liberty of your promise to consult Nananom in the nominations to such post.

“We further trust that as a true son of Ghana and from a lineage that respects traditional authority, we are certain that President Mills will empathize with chiefs at this critical time and bring the matter to an amicable resolution,” it added.

The statement said since the appointments of DCE became topical, there have been deliberate attempts through agitation including alarmist publications to advance hollow but dangerous arguments based on false data of ethnic dimensions to justify such appointments for certain communities without the least consideration or sensitivity of the custodians of the land.

It regretted that the nominee could not express himself in Twi or Akan language, in a predominant Akan area, unless through an interpreter.

The statement said the current appointment breaches the mutual accord reached by the traditional leaders and it is seen as an aberration to the peace, unity and social cohesion of the area.

It said the appointments in the area since the coming into existence of the 1992 Constitution has been imbalanced and skewed to favour particular traditional areas at the expense of the generality.

The statement appealed to President Mills to reconsider the recommendation of the Chiefs and appoint a nominee from the “Wawa-Agya” or north of Kadjebi and Asato or “enbloc would advice themselves”.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself, “Concerned Youth” of Kadjebi are staging a peaceful demonstration in Kadjebi to back the demands of the traditional authorities in the District.

GNA