In the latest of internal agitations within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Region, executive members of the Wa East Constituency have called for the removal of Mr Abudu Abdul Karimu from his position as District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.
They have accused the DCE of being a sympathiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and claimed that his actions and pronouncements endeared him to NDC's political opponents than party members.
They claim, among other complaints, that the DCE's occupation of his office has proven detrimental to the fortunes of the party in the constituency, alleging that his supposed failure to attend funerals, disrespect for chiefs and warm embrace to political opponents and alienating the party faithful are threatening the chances of the party in the constituency.
Threat to NDC’s chances
They threatened that failure to relieve the DCE of his current position within a week would lead to "riots and violent demonstrations" in the constituency.
At a news conference at Bulenga in the centre of the district, the party's Constituency Secretary, Kuri Suglo, alleged that the DCE openly campaigned for sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against NDC sympathisers during the campaign for the district level elections which have now been postponed.
He said evidence of putting up a shed for NPP sympathisers in the constituency and then engaging the services of a known NPP sympathiser as his official driver, had combined to expose Mr Karimu as overly sympathetic to political opponents at the expense of NDC members.
Petition to President
"Since his appointment as DCE, he has not made any familiarisation tour of the district," the constituency secretary charged, and demanded, "How can you rule people who do not know you?"
Mr Suoglo, who was once the Presiding Member of the Wa East District Assembly, said the DCE's "gross disrespect for eminent chiefs and opinion leaders in the district" and other supposed crimes had necessitated "several persuasions by the constituency executive and petitions to the regional minister and President John Mahama, but all had proven futile.
"If the DCE is not immediately removed from his position, things will go out of control," he insisted.
Mr Karimu, a former Regional Manager of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has been in office for just a year.
<<Print>>