Avenor NPP Chairman denounces protests against DCE

Akatsi (V/R), April 29, GNA - Mr Gabriel Awudi, acting Avenor Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denounced attempts by some persons to create confusion and division in the Party by planning a forceful removal from office of Mr Nicholas Negble, Akatsi District Chief Executive (DCE).

He said it is only the President who can engage or dismiss the DCE and that no individual should think that his perceptions stand a good ground for the removal of the DCE from office.

Mr Awudi was speaking in an interview with reporters at Akatsi on Tuesday shortly after the Akatsi District Assembly at its two-day Ordinary Session passed a resolution condemning a planned demonstration by a group calling itself "Concerned Citizens".

The Assembly disassociated itself from the action of the group and subsequently asked that anyone who had grievances against any official should lodge them with the Assembly's Complaints Committee for redress. "The situation in which some people insist that their opinions and perceptions remain the final judgement cannot be final in a Party which believes in good governance and democracy", Mr Awudi said.

He said the allegations of embezzlement being levelled against the DCE by the group remained unsubstantiated and called on all true members of the NPP, who desired the Party's unity and strength to pass any ill-feeling to the appropriate quarters in the district for redress.

Mr Awudi noted that the agenda of the group was to throw dust into the eyes of the large number of the supporters of the DCE to prevent him from winning the parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket in the December elections.

He said all recognised members of the Party were solidly behind Mr Negble as a hardworking DCE, "whose openness in administrative matters has become a source of envy for his enemies."

Mr Awudi said the good works of the NPP, which places it in a better position to win the 2004 elections, has also become a worry to the Party's opponents and advised supporters not to allow themselves to be influenced in their forward march.

He noted that the problem started soon after Mr Negble defeated Mr Kofi Abledu, a biochemist, in the parliamentary primaries in the Avenor Constituency held recently at Akatsi.

Mr Abledu was the United Ghana Movement's (UGM) Parliamentary candidate in the 2000 elections but later defected to the NPP.