Sack Arrogant Officials: Chief Tells Mills

THE PARAMOUNT chief of Assin Apimanim traditional Area, Barima Kwame Nkyi XII, has sent a strong warning to President John Evans Atta Mills to, as a matter of urgency, sack people he terms as ‘square pegs’ in his administration or face defeat in the 2012 general elections. He said any attempt by President Mills to continue to work with the square pegs would cost the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government dearly, since it was incurring the displeasure of the citizenry with its non-performance. Barima Nkyi stated that a listening government was a winning one, hence the need for President Mills to accept constructive criticisms from his opponents. “If you don’t sack the square pegs, they will rather sack you,” he said. Barima Nkyi gave the advice at the general council meeting for Assin Apimanim Traditional Council at Assin Manso in the Assin South District of the Central Region. The paramount chief expressed concern about the way the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Sabina Appiah Kubi, was not on good terms with him because he was bold enough to criticize her on her poor performance. He indicated that Madam Kubi had intentionally carried out all the developmental projects of the district in her traditional area which is Assin Attandanso. He cited an instance where the capital of Assin South should have been sited at Assin Manso but was rather sited at Nsuaem Kyekyewere due to political reasons. Barima Nkyi said the Assin Apimanim, which started from Nsuta to Kyekyewere, seemed not to be getting the needed development because the DCE only concentrated on the development of her hometown. “It appears the council is in ‘comatose’ since the council is not delivering and everything seems to be at a standstill. We the people of Assin Apimanim will advice ourselves if the DCE continues with her diabolic agenda,” he added. Barima Nkyi lamented that although chiefs did not participate in political party activities, they could contribute to the local governance of the people in their communities. He noted that chiefs of today could perform better if they were assigned some aspect of local governance, rather than the district assembly taking over all governance of communities. The outspoken chief further called for the creation of Assin Apimanim into a district to foster development. The paramount chief stressed the need for the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Prof Dominic Fobih, to allocate part of his common fund to the people of Assin Apimanim traditional area. He alleged that the MP had been telling the people that residents of Apimanim did not vote for him so he would not embark on any development project in the area.