Youth appeals to President to appoint former ADB boss

Wenchi, (B/A), April 25, GNA - A Concerned youth group in the Wenchi Municipality in the Brong-Ahafo Region, on Monday appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to give Mr Yaw Opoku Atuahene, a former Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank, a political appointment.

According to the group, Mr Atuahene, a seasoned banker, and a native of Wenchi contributed immensely to the victory of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in election 2016, not only at the Wenchi constituency but also at the national level.

'The overwhelming contributions of Mr Atuahene, who stooped low to become a polling station agent for the NPP in the Wenchi constituency, could not be overlooked' Nana Adom Busia, the spokesman for the group told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region.

He indicated that many people in the Wenchi Municipality were not happy because 'it seems the government wants to neglect Mr Atuahene a strong pillar behind the NPP in the Wenchi constituency'.

Nana Busia explained that, as a stronghold of the NPP, the strength of the party could easily diminish and narrow its fortunes in Election 2020, if some prominent and bigwigs of the NPP in Wenchi were not giving political appointments.

Flanked by other members of the group, the spokesman pointed out that 'President Akufo-Addo would be ungrateful to the people of Wenchi', if he failed to give Mr Atuahene a political appointment in his government.

'We believe the government and the NPP in general will recognise and appreciate our tremendous contributions, which enabled our great party to regain political power in election 2016, and listen to our concerns', Richard Kwadwo Adu, the assemblyman for Ntoase Electoral area in the Municipality told the GNA.

Mr Adu who is the Wenchi constituency Youth Organiser of the NPP, emphasised that they remained a strong party under a 'great elephant' and all tendencies that had the potential to break its rank and file ought to be dealt with.

He observed that although the youth of Wenchi had utmost hope and confidence that the ministers the President appointed could perform, there were others such as Mr Atuahene ou there, whose contributions to the growth of the party ought to be recognised.

Mr Adu commended the government for the 'planting for food and jobs' campaign, and was optimistic that the one-district-one-factory project would be a reality to create more jobs for the youth.

Mr Atuahene, an Agricultural Economist, Poultry Scientist and Project/Financial Analyst, joined the ADB in 2001 and was until his elevation to the Deputy Managing Director (Credit and Banking) of the bank.

He had previously worked at the National Investment Bank (NIB) and Prudential Bank. He holds a BSc (Agricultural & Resource Economics), MSc (Poultry Science) and MA (Economics, Statistics & Extension Methods) degrees from the Oregon State University, USA.

Mr Atuahene has also participated in a number of short courses in Basic Project Appraisal, Investment Project Appraisal, Investment Analysis and Management, and Agriculture Project Planning with Computer.

GNA

By Dennis Peprah, GNA