General News of Wednesday, 15 June 2005

Source: --

14 govt appointees dismissed

There is some anxiety in the Volta Regional capital Ho few days to the endorsement of the Municipal and District Chief Executive for Ho and 13 other districts in the Volta Region.

This follows the removal of about 14 government appointees from the Ho Municipal assembly.

Though the removal is due partly to the reduced size of the assembly after a new district was created out it, the inclusion of three new appointees has raised suspicion about the real motive behind the decision.

Prominent among those removed is Dakey Mensah, who is one of the vocal appointees initial, tipped for the post of DCE prior to the announcement of the President's nominee Mawutor Goh.

The Ho Municipal Assembly is one of fifteen district Assemblies where the President's nominees may have difficulty getting the two thirds majority vote in order to get confirmation as chief executive.

There are indications that party executives and Assembly members are doing everything possible to make sure their nominees go through the elections with ease.

Some believe that one such method is the removal and replacement of government appointees who make up 30 percent of each Assembly.

The peculiar nature of the Ho Municipal Assembly may have given the caveat to political bigwigs to dismiss some government appointees who are seen to be against the president's nominees.

The Ho Municipal Assembly has lost 10 members to the newly created Adaklu-Anyigbe district Assembly. 14 government appointees were therefore dropped to reflect the reduction in number at the Assembly. Ten old hands were retained with three new entrants.

Speculation is that the opportunity was used to axe some outspoken government appointees in order to help acting Municipal Chief executive Mawutor Goh to get the majority of votes for confirmation of his appointment.

Mr. Mawutor Goh dismissed these allegations in an interview with Joy News.

He however admitted that government appointees who kick against government policy and decision must either resign or be sacked.

Meanwhile JoyFm has also gathered that some outspoken government appointee in the Jasikan district of the Volta Region is also on their way out to enable the DCE Solomon Donkor get the nod from the assembly