General News of Monday, 4 June 2001

Source: GNA

Approval of DCEs shows Volta's commitment to orderliness

Mr Thomas Amematekpor, a Special Advisor to the President, has described the overwhelming and orderly confirmation of the new District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the Volta Region as a true reflection of the people in the region.

He said contrary to fears that the majority of assemblymen in the region being National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, would put impediments in the approval process, it turned out to be constructive and "most lively".

Mr Amematekpor, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Denu at the weekend, said the people of the Volta region are law abiding and obedient citizens who tread cautiously and consider every case on its own merit.

"Voltarians view the DCE position as Civil Service positions rather than political and their rejection of the candidates in their view would have caused unnecessary civil disorder," he added.

Mr Amematekpor rejected the notion that the people of the region are ethnocentric for voting en-bloc for the NDC in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 elections because the party's leader, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings comes from the region.

The people of the region more than any other, in the 1970s supported General I. K. Acheampong's Union Government concept though he came from the Ashanti Region, he said.

"With time the people of the Volta Region would come to support the New Patriotic Party (NPP) based on careful studies of its policies and programmes," Mr Amematekpor said.

The Special Advisor said the government is continuing with all projects initiated by the previous government in the region while sourcing funding for those on the drawing board.

He said investigations by the government into some decisions and actions by the previous government rather than being a witch-hunt are genuine and aimed at putting the economy in order for the desired growth.

Mr Amematekpor asked Ghanaians to change their self-seeking attitudes, which engender corruption so that the little resources available could be utilised for the general good.