There is brewing tension in the Oti Region following the alleged marginalisation of Konkombas in the appointment of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
This follows the elimination of people of Konkomba descent from the final list of nominees after the vetting process.
The youth are threatening to take action, believing it was a calculated attempt to deny Konkombas appointments to serve under the John Mahama government.
Addressing the press, the Nkwanta South Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Gideon Bilinyi expressed shock that none of the 12 Konkombas who filed nominations was shortlisted though they had met the criteria to be appointed as MMDCEs.
“In the recent vetting of MMDCEs for Oti Region, we had three Konkombas from Karachi West, one from Karachi Nchumuru, seven from Nkwanta North, and two from Nkwanta South. All these people never catch the eye of our Regional Chairman who doubles as Regional Minister to shortlist a single Konkomba”, he alleged.
He called on President Mahama to audit the vetting process and its outcomes and ensure due diligence to avert a possible tribal conflict in the region.
According to him, the Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong who was allegedly heard on tape making unsavoury comments against Konkombas, might have orchestrated the elimination of his tribesmen from the MMDCEs race.
Mr. Bilinyi appealed to the President to revoke Mr. Gyapong’s appointment since he has demonstrated to be a “divisive leader” and hence cannot superintend over the administration of the Oti Region, and coheres peace and development.
“So, we are telling His Excellency John Dramani Mahama that we want the immediate withdrawal of the so-called document that the Regional Chairman [John Kwadwo Gyapong] has written to him. We also want the immediate dismissal of the Oti Regional Minister because he is not a unifier, he cannot lead the region with these divisive comments, where he was recorded saying all this.”
The Nkwanta North NDC Constituency Deputy Secretary, Thomas Ntakpayor Dawuni expressed the youth’s displeasure about the development.
He questioned the Vetting Committee’s refusal to consult the Constituency Executives and acting in isolation to select a suitable candidate for the position of MMDCE.
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