A former Local Government Minister in the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Kwadwo Adjei-Darko has been explaining why some people have been denied their ambition to become District Chief Executives (DCEs) indicating that some of the decision were taken based on their religious beliefs.

“When I was in the Local Government Ministry we came to a point where we were appointing some DCEs. A lot of people applied and went through the processes with recommendations from their regional minister and party executives”

“In one instance we had a report from our investigative agencies that this man who was so much a religious dogmatic on a particular day which has been set aside for worship even if his child was sick, he left the child in the house spent the whole day at the worship centre and the time he came the child was dead”.

“As a minister assisting the President to make the appointment, I asked myself a question that you the DCE you are in charge of the District Security so you should call District Security Council Meetings when the need arises. In case a day of worship there is confusion in your district and there should be need to call the security meeting, are you going to call that meeting in spite of the fact that day is a day of worship”

“I am a Christian so am not underrating Christianity but if you go for such position, there is a potential problem that might arise and because you cannot marry the two situations that is the day of worship with calling the meeting of the district security. What should we do? So I just set him aside”

‘You wouldn’t know this information and the people recommending will be agitating. But the appointment authorities look at all these pieces of information”.

“There was another person who had everything. The report about him was that any association he joined he took loan from it and it becomes difficult for him to pay back”

“I deduced that he cannot manage his finances well. With all the Assembly funds and Common Funds how is this man going to manage it and be sincere to the district and government? I put him also aside”

Adjei-Darko pointed out the President is not under any obligation to listen to concerns of party members before nominating someone for such positions.