Asamankese, July 29, GNA- The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, has said that the changing of District Chief Executives (DCEs) was not due to incompetence or poor performances. He has therefore, appealed to the people in the affected districts not to allow the change of their DCE to divide them but should rather strengthen their resolve to forge ahead in peace and unity.

Mr. Yaw Barimah made the appeal in an address read on his behalf at a durbar to mark the Ohumkan festival of the chiefs and people of Asamankese. He observed that reports on the performance of the former District Chief Executive presented to him showed enviable achievements, saying "nonetheless, the President in his own wisdom saw the need for change and therefore appointed a new DCE".

Mr Barimah therefore, urged the assembly members, the traditional authority, organizations and the entire citizenry of the district to lend their unflinching support to the new DCE in the performance of his duties to realize the development agenda of the district. He advised the people in the area to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme and change their attitude towards sex and maintain permanent partners to avoid contracting the HIV/AIDS. The newly appointed DCE, Mr Kwabena Sintim Aboagye, pledged to

ensure that education was given the needed assistance and support in conformity with the government's fee free education in the district. He said, as a preventable measure towards reducing malaria, the district assembly would reintroduce and enforce policies to ensure good sanitation practices in the area. Mr. Aboagye expressed his gratitude to the Members of Parliament (MP's), the traditional authority and the assembly members for the able manner in which they supported him during his endorsement.

The Chief of Asamankese, Osabarima Kwaku Amoah said apart from promoting unity, the Ohumkan festival also offers the opportunity to evaluate the socio-economic and cultural development of the area and strategize for the ensuing year. He noted that this years celebration marked a watershed in the history of the area as it was being celebrated at a time when a new DCE had been appointed and thanked the President for the honour done them.