'Appoint MCE for Techiman'

The chiefs and people of Techiman have appealed to the President to, as a matter of urgency,  appoint a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Techiman to help solve the prevailing problems bedevilling the municipality considered to be the commercial hub of the Brong Ahafo Region. The municipality, which is faced with many development challenges, has been without an MCE for close to a year now, after the exit of Mr Emmanuel Kyeremeh, now the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, thereby causing disenchantment for the ruling NDC in the municipality.

According to the people, they were disappointed at the continuous delay in the appointment of an MCE for the municipality and that they could no longer bear it .

They said as a result of the absence of an MCE, activities at the assembly and the municipality had come to a standstill, resulting, for instances, in  mountains of refuse in some parts of the municipality.

The Akwamuhene of Techiman, Nana Owusu Gyare II, who made the appeal on behalf of the chiefs and people of Techiman during this year’s annual yam festival, described the situation in the town as deplorable  and cautioned the ruling NDC not to take the people for granted.

Nana Owusu Gyare lamented the frustration of the chiefs and the people in the town, and observed that the prevailing situation was unacceptable.

He, however, admonished all those who matter in the appointment process to put their selfish interest aside and think about the general wellbeing of the people in Techiman.

The disappointment of the people were heightened by the allegation that factions of the two shortlisted nominees for the position of MCE had threatened to go on rampage if their favourite was not chosen. This is the reason for the delay, according to reports confirmed by a Deputy Minister of Local Government, Mr Baba Jamal, on ASTA fm , a radio station based in Techiman.

Meanwhile, supporters of the two shortlisted persons for the position of the MCE,  Mr Oppong Amponsah and Alhassan Mahama, have expressed their preparedness to support any one who would come out successful, a move supported by the traditional council.

The people are, therefore, appealing to the President to disregard any threat of mayhem and go ahead to announce whoever he has chosen to save the sinking image of the NDC government in Techiman.

By Samuel Duodu/Daily Graphic/Ghana