The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Kweku Botwe has directed the Ghana Police Service to arrest persons who would protest through mayhem and cause destruction to properties following the announcement of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
According to him, any such group of trouble makers should be regarded as “lawless citizens“.
Dan Botwe, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Okere constituency in the Eastern Region, on Sunday, released the full list of MMDCE nominees at a press conference in Accra.
Some disgruntled youth groups of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), prior to and after the announcement of the MMDCEs, went on rampage after realizing that their preferred candidate’s name was missing.
For example, some youth in the Odododiodoo Constituency embarked on a protest on Saturday, burning car tyres in the process. Police have announced the arrest of four persons said to be ringleaders of that protest in Jamestown.
At Chereponi in the North East Region, NPP youth destroyed some structures after the nomination of Zuwera Mada Nashiru as the District Chief Executive was announced.
Speaking to the media, Dan Botwe, explained that the party will not entertain such rude behaviors and anything that seeks to undermine the peace and stability of the country.
“The president in his wisdom and in consultation with fellow party elders has nominated various MMDCEs, so if you don’t support the president’s nominee, the best thing to do is to reach out to your party executives than resort to violence.
“I entreat the police to do their work and arrest perpetrators of violence or any group of persons that will want to take the law into their own hands and cause violence,” he added.
The nominated MMDCEs are expected to be subjected to voting by assembly members in their various MMDAs for approval before they will be issued with appointment letters.
Per Article 243 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the chief executive for every MMDA shall be appointed by the President, with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the assembly present and voting at a meeting.