DAILY GUIDE’S prediction of heightening tension in the Volta Region over the announcement of the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCE’s) has been confirmed as members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the South Dayi District have rejected the president’s nominee.
The members, who were clad in red and chanting war songs and other antagonistic slogans, held a press conference last Thursday to register their displeasure over the nominee, Ella Boateng, as the DCE for the district.
According to them, she is not known by the party members, has never been seen involved in any party activity “and more seriously, she is a known activist of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).”
They also alleged that her relationship with the regional communications director, Efo Philipo Nyaho Dati, could have influenced her nomination, as Mr. Dati has lots of connections in the NPP.
A press statement which was signed by the first vice chairman, Humphrey Amoaku, and read by Daniel Kaklaku-Dodou, also alleged that one Ernest Patrick Marllet’s name was substituted with Ella Boateng’s; but the former is their preferred candidate.
They have therefore resolved, “We will not in any way accept any infiltrated member from the NDC… to attain the highest position in the district.”
The party members said, “We therefore give the presidency a 24-hour ultimatum to change the name of Ms Ella Boateng and replace it with Mr. Ernest Patrick Marllet. Else there will not be any NPP member in South Dayi.” When contacted, Efo Philipo Dati refuted the allegations, saying it was borne out of hatred.
He added that his love relationship with Ella has got nothing to do with her competencies as well as the processes leading to her nomination.
He said, “Granted Ella is my girlfriend, how has that got to do with influencing the process? It means I am a very powerful man. How can I influence the constituency vetting committee, regional committee vetting and the national committee, plus the President? This is a joke.”
Ella Mounts Defence
Ella Boateng also expressed shock at the reactions from the party members. She said that after she had returned to Ghana in the 1980’s she became the regent of the paramount queen mother of Peki until 2007, hence could not have been doing active politics for either the NPP or the NDC.
She then joined the NPP in 2007 and has since been supporting the party. She said she couldn’t have taken any executive position because she was a public servant – Deputy Director of Education in-charge of Finance and Administration.
Ella claimed she had sponsored the party severally from the 2008 elections to the 2016 elections, particularly with funds and feeding of members during party programmes.
“I even pre-financed the 2014 primary of the constituency, since the money for the constituency delayed,” she asserted.
She concluded, “I am not surprised nor moved because these allegations came up even to the national vetting committee. The committee made its background checks among others and still passed me. Every member of the committee is not new to these allegations. But the Lord saw me through.”
She called for unity and assured party members that she would not disappoint them and the president.
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