The government on Monday, May 9, 2005 began grilling prospective District Chief Executives (DCEs) through interviews at the Castle.

The first batch of DCEs who attended the interview session were applicants from the Greater Accra Region who have filed their applications to be appointed to the positions of DCEs in all the districts in the Greater Accra Region.

Information available to The Independent from the Castle indicates that those who filed their applications to be considered as DCEs for districts in the Volta Region will take their turn today, Tuesday May 10, 2005. The information also had it that approved applicants from the Central Region would follow on Wednesday.

This is the last exercise towards the appointment of DCEs, a source at the Castle hinted The Independent and added that, this is to ensure those who will get the nod after the search process to represent the President in their respective districts, are people whose lives are above board. Sources at the Castle disclosed that those who are attending the interview are applicants whose applications have been accepted by the government after short listing all the applications received.

Investigations established that the short listing was done based on the analysis of security agencies' reports on the applicants. It was also established that during investigations the President also instituted a team which went round the country to solicit information on the background and the track record of the applicants. Regional Ministers and the Regional branches of the NPP, the investigations also uncovered were asked to furnish the presidency with reports on all applicants in their respective regions, which also served as the basis for the short listing.

The interview session is to afford the interviewers the opportunity to ascertain from the applicants short listed their vision and mission for their respective districts and how they intend to move them forward in terms of development in all sectors of the economy.