Appointment of DCEs prerogative of President – Minister
Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Upper East Regional Minister has stated that the appointment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives was the prerogative of the President.
The Regional Minister stated this when the Upper East Youth Association and Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), paid a courtesy call on him on Saturday.
This was after the two groups had urged him to help ensure that competent, energetic and result oriented people are appointed as Municipal and District Chief Executives to assist him steer the affairs of the region efficiently.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said “Per the country’s constitution the President has the sole prerogative to appoint MCEs and DCEs and we as Regional Ministers, and party executives only assist him in doing that and our decisions are not binding”, he stressed.
He expressed regret that when the President, in his own wisdom, appoints MCEs and DCEs “people come out to say that they do not want the person he had appointed”, stressing that, most often people who indulged themselves in such negative tendencies were mostly influenced by selfish politicians or opposition parties.
He entreated the two groups and politicians to sensitize and educate people to desist from such negative practices, stressing “there are laid down procedures at the Assemblies through which impeachment could be used to remove non-performing MCEs and DCES if it became necessary. The standing orders of the Assembly are clear on that. Let us educate our people to stay away from these negative trends and other negative issues”.
The Regional Minister assured the groups that plans were underway to start work on the road networks in the region and the airport at Sumburungu, whilst the Regional Security council (REGSEC) was working frantically to curb the spate of crime in the region.
He said efforts were also being made to revamp the defunct factories in the region, including the meat factory and the rice mills.
This, he explained, would help provide employment to the teaming youth in the region, saying also that Government had plans to build 20 secondary schools in each of the regions across the country and to assist students with Scholarships facilities.
He expressed concern about the magnitude of stray animals on the streets of Bolgatanga and entreated the groups to sensitize the communities to desist from allowing their animals to stray worsening the already congested human and vehicular traffic.
He warned that after the sensitization programme animals found loitering in town would be detained and their owners fined before retrieving them.
The Minister intimated that where owners failed to own up, the animals would be auctioned by the Regional Coordinating Council (UERCC).
The Regional Minister further expressed worry about the security situation in the region and blamed it partly on indiscipline among the youth.
He was specifically concerned about some youths in the Municipality who rode motorbikes without licenses and crash helmets and said it was difficult to distinguish criminals from rightful owners of motorbikes.
“This is another challenge to you as an association. Government cannot be answerable to everything. You have big task to play by sensitizing the youth to register their motorbikes and also wear crash helmets.”
The spokespersons for the Upper East Youth Association, Mr Francis Adingo and the President of NORPRA Mr Bismark Adongo who led the delegation thanked the Regional Minister and pledged the associations’ unflinching support to the government in exercising its functions.
Source: GNA