Alhaji Bature Iddrisu, Managing Editor of the Al-Hajj newspaper, has accused the John Mahama-led administration of being irresponsible in allowing the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South, Gabriel Barima, to stay in office.
Mr. Barima has gained notoriety in recent times for his infamous ‘Tweaa’ comment and angry response to heckling at a public function, which earned him a reprimand and warning from his boss, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, after he reportedly showed remorse.
But in a recent interview with Joy News, the Ahafo Ano South DCE expressed delight at the publicity his words had generated for him, both home and abroad, and maintained he did not regret his actions or being called ‘Tweaa DCE.’
The ministry has since began what it says is a review of Mr. Barima’s comments after the interview.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show of Wednesday, March 5, 2014, however, Alhaji Bature insisted the president and his Local Government Minister had missed a golden opportunity to demand quality governance.
“No responsible government will keep this man, this Tweaa DCE, in office for even one day,” he declared, adding “If I were the President, I would (also) fire the Local Government minister, because the man is incompetent. He is not fit to be in office.”
“This is a disgrace to the nation!”, he thundered.
“What the man (Ahafo Ano South DCE) did is bad. It does not show respect to the president, the chiefs and the people of Ghana. His behaviour has become a dent on this government forever and ever.
“What he did is more serious than what Victoria Hammah did, but was she given this latitude?
“But I don’t blame him, I blame the president. If you have competent people with over 24 years [experience] and you use people like that, this is what happens,” he noted.