Vetting of District Chief Executives suggested

Kumasi, March 29, GNA - A suggestion has been made for the institution of measures that would make it mandatory for District Chief Executives (DCEs) to also be vetted after their appointment by the President, just like in the case of ministers.

Mr Opoku-Agyemang Prempeh, Executive President of the Centre for Moral Education (CEMED), an NGO, said since ministers appointed by the President go through vetting before approval, so should DCEs also be made to go through the same process.

Mr Prempeh made the suggestion at a day's workshop organised by the CEMED for selected members of virgin clubs from the Kumasi metropolitan area on Monday.

He said the current practice, whereby only ministers were vetted prior to approval or rejection of the appointment, while DCEs were left out is not fair.

Mr Prempeh explained that the fact that DCEs confirmation is subject to voting by the assembly members was not enough excuse to allow them not to be vetted by a committee.

"After all, after the vetting process, parliament as a body still votes on the ministers to either accept or reject them", he added. While commending the positive move of the government in instituting the People's Assembly concept, Mr Prempeh said the government should go a step further, by extending it to the districts rather than limiting it to only the national and regional capitals.

He said its impact would be more felt and have a greater and broader influence when organised at the district levels, since majority of the people reside in those areas.

Mr Prempeh entreated members of the various virgin clubs not just to be concerned with formation of such clubs but let people feel their existence by moving out to rural areas to enlighten them more on the merits of decent and morally upright lives.