Our Lives Are In Danger

Five metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) have been attacked within the last six months in the country.

The latest is the cold-blooded murder of the Nkwanta South DCE, Mr Peter Kojo Kenyenso, last Monday.

According to the President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Alhaji Mohammed Kwaku Doku, the spate of attacks on MMDCEs is an indication their lives were in danger, stressing that "we are not safe."

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on phone from Goaso, Alhaji Doku, who is also the MCE for Asunafo North in the Brong Ahafo Region, mentioned Banda, Kumawu, Kumbungu, and the latest which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of the Nkwanta South DCE as examples.

He also indicated that a chief recently threatened to attack the Tamale MCE for reasons very difficult to comprehend.

Mr Kenyenso was shot and killed at close range at his residence when he alighted from his vehicle at about 8p.m. last Monday.

Police are holding eight persons in connection with the murder.

For the Banda DCE, Mr Doku said, he had to escape into the bush when a mob charged on him at his residence and set his vehicle ablaze.

The irony of the situation was that, all those incidents happened without the police taking any action to deal with the perpetrators.

"So you can imagine that our lives are in danger, especially when other like-minded people see no action from the police," the NALAG boss said.

He consequently appealed to the Inspector General of Police to take the matter up and ensure that all attacks on MMDCEs were treated with all the seriousness it deserved.

Self protection

He said if the police failed to act appropriately, "some of us will be forced to protect ourselves."

Alhaji Doku also appealed for personal security details for MMDCES as a long- term measure to protect them and their families.

Reasons for attacks

Alhaji Doku said most often, reasons behind the attacks were untenable.

"Sometimes people will come to you asking for money and if you fail to give them, they will mark you down and the next time you are under attack," he explained.

“Others would also come to you seeking for jobs and when you ask them to be a little patient, they see you as the most wicked person on earth, " he explained.

"Party people are putting so much pressure on us and they are not ready to listen to anything that will not meet their expectation.

"And at the end of the day, people will brand you as corrupt if you give out monies, " he explained.

Infallibility of MMDCEs

The NALAG president said as human beings, MMDCEs were not infallible but that did not warrant physical attacks on them even if they go astray.

"We are in a country of law and people must apply to the right channels to settle matters."

In this era that the President was doing everything to tackle corruption in the country, Alhaji Doku said, MMDCEs had a duty to support him to achieve his laudable objective.

No turning back

The NALAG president said in spite of the attacks, MMDCEs must remain committed and strong to support the President in his Better Ghana agenda.

"We should not be cowed into submission but work to improve the lives of our people," he added.

Source: Daily Graphic