Bagbin's 'April Fool' angers DCEs

Works and Housing Minister Alban Bagbin

Disappointment and embarrassment were the key words the Chief Director of the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC), Mr. David Yaro, used to describe the failure of the Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing, Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin, to honour a scheduled strategic meeting with stakeholders in the water sector, including the 17 district chief executives (DCEs) in the region.

A letter circulated by the RCC to all media houses, and the aforementioned stakeholders, through a directive by the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, indicated: “As part of his interaction with stakeholders in the water sector, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Alban SL Bagbin (MP) will meet with such stakeholders in the Western Region.

This is to provide the Hon. Minister the opportunity to interact and apprise these stakeholders of the real issue about water in the region.” However, as at 10:00a.m on Monday when the meeting was supposed to take off, neither the Minister, nor any of his deputies or a member of the Ministry, had shown up.

There was also no communication as to why they failed to turn up.
Mr. David Yaro, who was obviously unhappy over the situation, then decided to contact the Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing, Alhaji Zimblim, to ascertain the reason for the embarrassment the Ministry had subjected the RCC to.

He told The Chronicle that it was after he made the enquiries that he was told by the Chief Director that the Minister had his schedules for the day changed, because of the commissioning of a project.

But, Mr. Yaro, who was furious with the turn of events, said even though the explanation appeared to be reasonable, the Minister and his Chief Director were to blame for what he termed a disappointment and embarrassment to dignitaries who had all abandoned their busy schedules to honour the invitation.

According to Mr. Yaro, when the Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, was informed about what had transpired, he was also unhappy with the turn of events, and did not hide his displeasure.

He said: “Our duty as the RCC is that we facilitate, so if you don't come, we are embarrassed. A time will come that they will not get the RCC to facilitate in some of these things because of what they are doing,” Mr. Yaro observed, and added, “Sometimes they explain and it is beyond their control, but this one was not like that.”

Nonetheless, he said Alhaji Ziblim, who had realized the error committed by the Ministry, profusely apologized for the miscommunication, but was said to have indicated that he had communicated to a secretary at the Ministry to relay the information to the RCC and the regional managers of the water sector which instruction unfortunately was not carried out.


Source: The Chronicle/Ghana