Setting six government vehicles on fire, the executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nkwanta North Constituency of the Volta Region have sent a strong warning to President John Dramani Mahama to listen to the voice of the constituents or pay dearly for it.
According to them, the goodwill the party enjoyed in the area had dwindled severely and that the only way to retain the confidence and support of the people was to heed their call to dismiss the embattled District Chief Executive (DCE), Paul Levin Gyato.
The warning was given at a press conference in Kpassa yesterday by the party executives – a day after the youth led by some party leaders destroyed six vehicles including four that were set ablaze.
The vandalism was in reaction to a report of the re-nomination of the current DCE, whom they labeled “a liability”.
DAILY GUIDE learnt that the youth, who numbered over 400, took to the streets on Thursday afternoon around 1:30pm and proceeded to the office of the Nkwanta District Assembly where they vandalized the vehicles.
In all, four pickups were set ablaze while two others believed to belong to the BNI in the area were vandalized.
Workers at the Assembly, including a BNI officer, were seen running helter-skelter as the rampaging youth stormed the place.
The press conference was addressed by the constituency secretary, Joseph Wumbei, at a secured location after the Police had foiled an earlier attempt to hold it at the party office in Kpassa.
Mr. Wumbei stressed that should the DCE, Paul Gyato, be retained, the entire leadership of the party would resign. More so, they were going to make the District more ungovernable for the DCE than it was now, he said.
The constituency scribe noted that the group would also ensure that the incumbent MP, John Oti Bless also resigns from Parliament and that should he refuse, it would be better for him to run the constituency from Accra.
Finally, the ruling government should forget about the Nkwanta North seat because they would mobilize the members and join the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to unseat the NDC MP, he added.
Mr. Wumbei interestingly expressed remorse about the incident of burning the State vehicles but was quick to add that “there was nothing the NDC executive could have done to stop the youth.
“They were not ready to listen to us,” he said.
He explained that the youth and people of the area were in serious rage over the retention of the DCE and that not even President Mahama could stop them, adding that the only thing that could placate them was the sacking of the DCE.
They contended that Paul Gyato was only good at displaying his incompetence and clandestine relationship with the opposition New Patriotic Party, saying the NDC lost the seat in 2004 and 2008 due to the machinations of the DCE.
More so, had it not been for the hard work of members and the current MP, Oti Bless, the party would have lost the seat again. They noted that the DCE had torn the party into shreds in the constituency and the district and that his retention would not be countenanced at all.
The NDC leaders also accused their regional and national executives of being corrupt and incompetent.
They wondered how Paul Gyato could be retained after failing to make the shortlist of candidates vetted for the position.
They mentioned Nelson Kofi Djabab, Kudor Kidibe and Tanko Mohammed as the persons originally shortlisted after the vetting.
However, none of them had been mentioned for the position.
Meanwhile, police and military presence has increased in the area, with patrols being rampant, particularly in Kpassa.
Meanwhile, the Comrades Network of Mamprugu, a think tank of the ruling NDC, has said Adam Imoro does not deserve a second term as he has been accused of mismanagement, corruption and incompetence.
Salifu Abraham, its spokesperson, said there was no meaningful development in the area during the tenure of office of Adam Imoro. However, the fortunes of the party had been dwindling in the constituency which narrowly won the seat in the 2012 elections by a little over 400 votes as against over 4000 votes in 2008 even in opposition.
Mr. Abraham also accused the DCE of running a one-man show hijacking appointments of persons to GYEEDA and other employment opportunities as well as sidestepping due process in the award of contracts to his cronies much to the displeasure of party executives in the constituency.
He added that the DCE was not competent to be in office, suggesting that the President appoints a young talented energetic person to administer the affairs of the district in an open and transparent manner as against the leadership style of the DCE which is creating disaffection within the rank and file of the party in the constituency.
On corruption charges, the spokesperson opined that in 2009, Adam Imoro collected GH¢32,500 from three farmers with a promise to secure them with government subsidized tractors, a promised he was yet to redeem.
He further called on him to render accounts for GH¢4million the district received in 2010 for capacity building and water project for the area.
The group also issued a stern warning to the Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Alfred Sugri Tia to stay neutral to enhance party unity and perform his duty as an MP for all or risk his seat if he supports the re-nomination of Hon. Adam Imoro.
The Comrades Network of Mamprugu reminded President John Mahama to redeem his campaign promise to complete the 45 kilometer Walewale-Gambaga road which is at a standstill.