General News of Friday, 28 July 2017
Source: theheraldghana.com
2017-07-28
NPP supporters clash over appointment of a new Regional Depot Manager
The Police in the Ashanti Region, stormed the premises of the Kumasi Depot of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) to avert clashes between management of the company and New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists, who are supporters of three party kingpins of the governing NPP.
The invasion of the Abrepo Junction Depot by some supporters of NPP, was over the appointment of a new Regional Depot Manager. An earlier appointment made, was terminated for no apparent reason, leading to the siege on the depot by the party supporter.
The situation has forced the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress, asking its members at the Metro Mass Transport in Kumasi to withdraw services for security reasons.
DCOP Ken Yeboah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander told Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, yesterday that the chaos was looming at the office after three people claimed they were appointed as managers of the facility.
It was, therefore, necessary that the police, deployed boots there to maintain law and order within the premises of the company.
“We are hearing that about three people are claiming they have been appointed as the manager of the facility but we all know the three people can’t be managers at the same time, and, so, we have deployed police to the area to avert chaos.
“We have also asked the three persons to go to the regional minister to settle the matter. We are protecting the state property and lives, we are also there to ensure that there is no disturbance,” he said.
Class FM reports seeing a letter indicating that the management of MMT, had removed from office one of the persons; Daniel Agyenim Boateng, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Organizer of the NPP, who claimed he was appointed as MD.
The letter signed by Human Resource Manager for the company, Eric Out, said: “We write to you that with immediate effect your appointment as the Kumasi Depot Manager which is supposed to take effect from 15th July 2017 is withdrawn.
“We trust that we can count on your co-operation for full compliance.” However, Mr. Boateng told host Forson that he had not received any letter asking him to step aside.
Mr. Boateng’s supporters, besieged the premises of the MMT yesterday morning in protest over the withdrawal of his appointment.
The move was to prevent the newly appointed Regional Manager, Nicholas Oduro from resuming work in that capacity.
Angry supporters of Mr. Boateng led by the chairman of the Ashanti Regional NPP Constituency Organizers, Kingsley Addo, accused a founding member of the party, Dr. Amoako Tufuor for being behind the confusion.
Though the reasons for the withdrawal of Mr. Boateng’s appointment are not known, a new Regional Manager, Nicholas Oduro was appointed few days after Boateng’s appointment was revoked.
The swift response from the police prevented the angry supporters from entering the main yard of the Metro Mass Transit.
But General Secretary of the General Transit, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union, Fuseini Iddrisu, says workers of MMT are frightened by the situation.
“Our members who are staff of Metro Mass Transit in Kumasi are afraid for their lives and their security cannot be guaranteed.”
The statement continued: “We have therefore advised them to remove themselves from the insecure office environment while the situation is brought to normalcy.”
Police have since taken over security at the MMT premises to prevent escalation of the confrontation.
The situation has caused some commuters to be stranded following the directive.
The aggrieved NPP supporters, vowed to stop one Nicholas Oduro from holding himself as the Regional Depot Manager.
According to them, Mr Oduro, cannot claim to be the head when a Daniel Agyenim Boateng, the Deputy Regional Organizer of the party has already been appointed as the Manager.
The youth, who vowed to ensure that Mr Oduro does not occupy any office at the premises of the company, insisted that , Mr Amoako Tuffour was behind the “illegal” appointment of Nicholas Oduro.
According to the Suame Divisional Police Commander, DSP D. O. Lomotey, the police will ensure maximum security to ensure calm.
Kingsley Addo, said that the Ashanti Regional NPP Organizers Association did not endorse the unilateral decision by Dr. Tuffuor.
“We the organizers in the Ashanti Region, we do not support any decision by Dr. Amoako Tuffuor so we appeal to Nana Akufo-Addo to help us keep Daniel for us as a Depot Manager. Daniel has been a hard-working organizer. He has done a marvelous job for us and that is why were are supporting him. What Dr. Amoako Tuffuor is rather doing is illegal. One position cannot go to two people,” he said.
He further threatened that the association would do whatever it takes to ensure that Daniel Agyenim Boateng retains the position.
“Daniel had the appointment first, so we don’t know what has changed now.”
