A group calling itself the Concerned Youth of Elubo in the Jomoro District of the Western Region has asked President Akufo-Addo to appoint a District Chief Executive for Jomoro from the Elubo Township or face their wrath.
The group says failure to do this, will see the NPP lose that seat it won for the first time in the 2016 elections, at the next poll in 2020.
According to the group, the appointment will also be a fulfilment of a promise made by the Jomoro MP, Paul Essien, that he was going to ensure that for the first time, a DCE is selected from Elubo, which has always decided the winner of elections in that area.
In a statement signed by the group’s President, Adjasoo Benjamin, the group said they have picked up reports of an attempt to name a Constituency executive as the DCE for Jomoro, as against their preferred choice, one Moses Andoh, an Assembly Member in Elubo.
The group’s concerns come ahead of reports that the President is expected to release his final list of MMDCEs across the country today [Wednesday].
Already, there have been similar disagreements in some parts of the country over who should make it on the list.
On Tuesday, some NPP members in Atiwa East in the Eastern Region, demonstrated against attempts to appoint a DCE from Atiwa West, claiming that the East has never had a DCE for the Atiwa District.
Below is the statement from the Concerned Youth of Elubo
We, the Concerned Youth of Elubo, have been watching the current political space in the country and our own Jomoro District with keen interest, and we wish to state our position on current happenings with regards to the DCE nomination for the district.
The NPP, prior to the 2016 elections, through its parliamentary candidate, Hon. Paul Essien promised to facilitate the nomination and subsequent approval of Mr. Moses Andoh, a native and one of the two assembly members of Elubo, to be the DCE for the district. The condition precedent was for the people of Elubo to help deliver the MP seat to the party’s parliamentary candidate.
As a matter of fact, Elubo remains the most populous town in the district, and has always decided who wins the parliamentary seat since 1992.
Indeed, in the 2016 elections, the records show that once again massive votes from Elubo decided the election in favour of the NPP Presidential and Parliamentary candidates, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and Paul Essien respectively.
The current Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Paul Essien won the elections with a difference of some 4000 votes. The vote’s difference between the NDC and the NPP has always been above 3000 in the Elubo area in favour of the NDC.
Upon the strong assurance from the NPP relative to the DCE nomination, we the people of the area voted massively for the NPP and the wide gap that always characterised the outcome of elections in favour of the NDC reduced to only 87 in 2016. This gave the golden opportunity for the NPP to win the seat for the first time since 1992.
The Concerned Youth of Elubo are privy to the manoeuvrings and arm twisting currently ongoing in the constituency and at the Presidency with the tacit approval of the current MP, Hon. Paul Essien, and other party big wigs to deny Mr. Moses Andoh the nomination for DCE. This we consider as a wicked stab in the back, and a betrayal of monumental proportions.
The current MP allegedly mobilized some unknown youths in the district purporting to hail from Elubo to petition the President and the party that they do not endorse the nomination of Mr. Moses Andoh. We have cited a copy of the so-called petition, and upon our thorough investigations, we wish to state in unequivocal terms that the petition never came from any group or person(s) in Elubo. His Excellency the President and the Party should therefore treat the so called petition with the contempt it deserves.
Let it be known, that the people of Elubo are united behind Mr. Moses Andoh whose selfless and diligent service to his party and his electoral area has been commendable.
We are clear in our minds therefore, that he will be a great DCE for the district.
The significance of Elubo in the Jomoro district can never be overemphasized. Beyond its decisive role in determining who wins elections in the constituency, Elubo remains the leading revenue center for the Jomoro district. The Elubo border is also a key revenue source for central government. That notwithstanding, the town has never benefited from any political appointment both at the national and district levels since 1992.
Let the records also show that, there are three major blocks in the district: the Half Assini Block, the Tikobo Block and the Elubo Block. Political appointments have always gone to the first two blocks leaving the Elubo block as the odd one out. This injustice, we think must stop. This political denial must end. It is counter-productive. It’s not good for political and social cohesion in the district. The youth of Elubo have resolved that enough is enough.
To conclude, we are very much aware that it is the President’s prerogative to nominate who should be the next DCE. We are also aware that the President rewards hard working people. We therefore appeal to him that in keeping to his party’s sacred promise to the people of Elubo, the President should nominate Mr. Moses Andoh as DCE for Jomoro District. Any other decision will be considered as a wicked stab in the back.
The President should respectfully bear in mind that, his party’s chances of maintaining the Jomoro seat in 2020 rests on this singular decision.
Notice is hereby served.
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