Chiefs in Birem North have today voted against the re-nomination of Raymond Nana Damptey as their District Chief Executive (DCE).
The Chiefs held a meeting over some allegations leveled against them by the DCE, captured in an audio recording and played during the meeting.
The audio, leaked from his camp, contained some threats against the Chiefs in the area.
On the audio recording, an assign of the DCE named Ama Abrafi could be heard warning President Nana Akufo-Addo not to trust the Chiefs because they are all saboteurs of his government.
Ama Abrafi stated emphatically that she has organized a gang, with some members from Nima and other places, to attack and beat the Chiefs.
The DCE was also heard challenging the Chiefs to dare write a petition to the President, threatening to expose the ''corrupt'' ones among them.
''If you dare send a petition, you will hear from me. Dare send the petition and we will mention all your names. As for the Chiefs, we have respect for them, so we will withhold their names for now but if they refuse to heed my warning and go ahead with their petition, I will mention names. You challenge me'', a voice purported to be the DCE's warned.
Forty-two (42) Chiefs gathered and voted for or against the Birim North DCE and out of the number, 4 voted in his favor while 37 voted against him; one vote was rejected.
The Chiefs, by majority decision, voted against the DCE’s re-nomination on grounds of his gross disrespect to them.
They raised the following concerns against Mr. Raymond Damptey.
1. Lack of respect for the Chiefs by refusing to attend to their calls anytime an invitation is extended to him.
2. Involvement of the DCE in Chieftaincy disputes and cited Abodom and Ntronang as examples. In most of these disputes, it turned very violent and bloody.
3. The DCE’s attack on the Chiefs on his Ananse FM station and during assembly meetings and also attack by the various assigns of the DCE. They cited the attack on the Chiefs and the President of the Republic by one staunch supporter of the DCE by name Ama Abrafi.
4. Refusal of the DCE to recognize the Chiefs in making key decisions affecting the district.
In view of the aforementioned complaints filed against the DCE, the Association of Chiefs in Birim North District led by Obrempong Kwasi Amo Tweretwie said ''we, the Chiefs, are not allowed by law to engage in party politics but we have the right to vote...Now, we are consternated and filled with fears but we have committed no wrong. We scare for our lives because of somebody's unguarded utterances and search for power''.
Some Constituency Executives have also appealed to the President, in a letter, to heed the Chiefs' call.
They however suggested for the President to appoint a certain Chairman Banor as the new DCE.
Read below a letter to the President:
We (NPP Abirem Constituency Executives: Constituency Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Organizer, Youth organizer, Deputy Youth Organizer, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Communication Officer, Nasara Coordinator and Deputy Nasara Coordinator) write to kick against a re-nomination bid by Raymond Nana Damptey as Birim North District Chief Executive (DCE).
Your Excellency Mr. President, kindly accept our congratulations for your re-election and successful swearing-in for a second term as the President of the Republic and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
We trust and have no iota of doubt in our minds that you will deliver on your mandate, thus we wish you all the very best.
We emphatically maintain that several reasons make it impossible for the former DCE to be reappointed.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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