THE CONSTITUENCY executives and branch members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper West Akim constituency of the Eastern Region on Monday staged a massive demonstration against President John Mahama, demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed District Chief Executive.
Mr. Derrick Ohene Asifo Bekoe, who contested for the party’s recent parliamentary primary but lost to the incumbent MP, was removed from office on December 29, 2015. That was during a reshuffle of leadership at various MMDAs that saw President Mahama sacking seven others from office.
The angry party members, numbering over 300, were led by the constituency chairman, Hope Kwasi Ahiagbenyor. Dressed in red T-shirts with red bands on their heads and hands and wielding placards with numerous inscriptions, the protesters besieged the premises of the constituency party office chanting war songs. They indicated that they would vote against President John Mahama during the November 7 polls if he failed to reinstate Mr. Derrick Ohene Asifo Bekoe, adding that the DCE’s dismissal was orchestrated by the incumbent NDC MP, Joseph Amankwanor.
According to them, the MP had been at loggerheads with the DCE because he sees him as a political rival.
The agitated members also believe that the DCE might have been dismissed because he was suspected to be behind a recent petition signed by 23 branch members of the party, seeking clarity on reports that the incumbent MP has a dual citizenship status.
Mr Hope Kwasi Ahiagbenyor, addressing the angry youth at the party office, appealed to them to exercise restraint but assured them that he and his colleagues would push for the DCE’s reinstatement.
He described development projects during the tenure of the DCE in the area as unprecedented, particularly in the areas of road, school and health infrastructure.
According to the protesters, the party risks losing the parliamentary seat in the 2016 election if the DCE is not retained.
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