Daily Guide has gathered that controversy has greeted the appointment of the new DCE at the presidency because Apraku Lartey allegedly happens to be a wrong choice.
Following this development, the presidency has reportedly withheld his appointment letter in the quiet which has led to the delay in regularizing his appointment.
According to our sources within the NDC, top government officials in the region used the backdoor to ensure the nomination of Mr. Lartey, which is said to have created some disunity in the NDC in the district.
The troubled DCE, who initially accepted to grant an interview with DAILY GUIDE to explain what was happening to the people, but later refused to talk to us, was confirmed on March 15, 2011 during the inauguration of the assembly, under the supervision of the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Eric Opoku.
Sources close to the Tano North District Assembly hinted that there had been an intense lobbying at the Castle, the seat of government, to have the DCE accepted by the powers that be by the leadership of the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council which pushed for his nomination.
The Omanhene of Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area, Nana Boakye Tromo III, expressed grave concern over the matter when DAILY GUIDE called on him at his palace recently. He said since the dismissal of the former DCE, Dominic Owusu Amoako earlier this year by the president, development in the district had been stalled because the government had failed to replace him.
Nana Boakye Tromo said that his council, on May 4, sent a delegation to the Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, to ask why the government had given the people in the district a raw deal. “The position of the DCE has been vacant since the previous one was sacked. There is absolutely nothing going on in the district because of the present situation. We are worried and can’t keep quiet over it. We need an explanation from the government,” the chief stated.
Mr. Apraku Lartey has since his confirmation taken full possession of the official vehicle of the assembly, though he does not go to the office to work.
But the Tano North District Coordinating Director, Raymond Gbedoah, sees nothing wrong with it.
He told Daily Guide that though the DCE had not officially assumed duty, the regional minister delegated him to undertake some official duties in the district on his behalf. He had assured Daily Guide that the President would officially hand over the Instrument of Authority to the DCE to start work last Friday, May 6, but it never materialized.
Meanwhile, some documents in the possession of Daily Guide suggest that there was a general resolution by the NDC Tano North Constituency Executive, Council of Elders, Zonal Coordinators and the Zongo Caucus, to have the President appoint one Mohammed Frimpong, whom they described as a more qualified candidate, as the DCE.
The resolution addressed to the President at the Castle read, “We, the Executives of Tano North Constituency, meeting to deliberate on the appointment of a suitable candidate as Tano North District Chief Executive at this critical moment to steer the affairs of the constituency for electoral victory of the National Democratic Congress in 2012 and for the realization of the Better Ghana Agenda of the party, after critically assessing all the candidates who have presented themselves so far, as well as all other options for efficient District Assembly, now resolve to support and back Mr. Mohammed Frimpong from Yamfo, the candidate with the requisite experience and qualification of party and District Assembly harmonious relationship and development.”
“Accordingly, we undersigned Tano North Constituency Executives humbly request your Excellency to appoint the Applicant, Mr. Mohammed Frimpong as our District Chief Executive for the realization for 2012 election victory,” the resolution stated.
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