...over scheme of appointments

Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Kade constituency are disenchanted with regard to political appointments made by the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor after the 2000 elections.

The supporters feel they have been neglected or rejected by the party in the scheme of appointments to positions in government as no one from the area has been appointed to any office. They described this omission as painful since the constituency is a stronghold for the NPP and fought for victory of the party in the 2000 elections.

Speaking to the Chronicle in an interview, Mr Asiedu Amponsah, a leading member of the party in the constituency, said up till now not a single NPP supporter has received any appointment there. When his attention was drawn to the fact that at least a District Chief Executive (DCE) has been appointed, Asiedu made it clear that what they have been aiming at is an ambassadorial or ministerial post, or something similar.

He claimed that politics is about numbers. Therefore, although the government’s present move in appointing people from the other side of the political divide is in order, that should not be done at the expense of devoted and qualified NPP stalwarts. The supporters charged that the party should guard against anything that will amount to frustration for its rank and file.

The supporters advised that the President should take a second look at his mode of appointments and try to satisfy all constituencies that contributed to the victory of the party in the 2000 general elections.

The disenchanted supporters were, however, happy that putting technocrats in sensitive political positions has contributed immensely to the positive implementation of government policies and programmes. “Government should spare no efforts in educating the citizenry on its policies whiles the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and allied institutions should be equipped logistically to carry out their constitutional duties,” they said.