The Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Freedom Party, DFP, Emmanuel Ansah Antwi has stated that he is opposed to the suggestion that the position of a District Chief Executive, DCE, be elective. According to him the current system of nominating DCE’s only needs some few amendments to make it function more efficiently and effectively. Mr. Ansah-Antwi expressed these sentiments when he paid a courtesy call on the Regent of Dagbon Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Yakubu at his palace in Yendi.
Mr. Ansah-Antwi noted that the election of DCEs as proposed by the presidential candidate of the NDC, CPP, NPP and CPP at the Institute of Economic Affairs Presidential debate in Tamale will spell doom for an already polarized country.
Mr. Ansah Antwi said under a DFP government, chiefs would be given a place in the district assemblies to serve as checks and balances on DECs to make them accountable. He said district assemblies are non-partisan and explained that it is for this reason that the constitution makes provisions for the appointment of DCEs. He therefore warned that any attempt to make DCEs stand on party tickets would create problems of reconciling people.
The presidential candidate indicated that sanitation, as well as arbitration of minor crimes would be under the care of chiefs to help expedite such cases and allow the courts to handle major crimes including drug trafficking. The life patron of the party, Dr. Obed Asamoah said the north had witnessed a lot of conflicts and the time has come for the people to shun violence. He called on them to embrace peace to create a congenial atmosphere for the development of the area.
