Kyei-Baffour misfired on status of Minister-designate-DCEs
Two district chief executives (DCEs) in the Ashanti Region have dismissed the assertion by a former President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Mr George Kyei-Baffour, that the Minister-designate for Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Mr Kwasi Oppong-Fosu, is not fit for the job.
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Nana Asare-Bediako and Mr Kaakyire Oppong-Kyekyeku, DCEs for Atwima Nwabiagya and Afigya Kwabre respectively, said Mr Kyei-Baffour misfired, adding that from his statement it appeared his knowledge about local governance and politics was suspect.
Mr Kyei-Baffour, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM and which the Daily Graphic carried on January 16, 2013, stated that Mr Oppong-Fosu did not have the wherewithal to perform to expectation at the ministry.
But, speaking in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, the DCEs said any objective follower of local governance and politics would attest to the fact that Mr Oppong-Fosu was more than qualified for the position.
Nana Asare-Bediako accused Mr Kyei-Baffour of a deliberate attempt to discredit a man who has over the years carved a huge image for himself for performing excellently in positions he held.
The minister-designate was once the district secretary for Adansi and the DCE for Ahafo Ano, all in the Ashanti Region.
He has also been the president of NALAG from 1996 to 2000.
From 1999 to 2000, he was also the deputy local government minister.
Mr Oppong-Fosu has also been the head of the Local Government Service.
Having held these positions with distinction, Nana Asare-Bediako wondered why someone would describe him as incompetent.
For his part, the DCE of Afigya Kwabre, Mr Oppong-Kyekyeku, said he was surprised at the way the media continued to describe Mr Kyei-Baffour as a local government expert.
He said such a description had emboldened him to attack many respected and hardworking people including Mr Oppong-Fosu without any basis.
Mr Oppong-Kyekyeku said the minister-designate was highly qualified and therefore commended the President for the nomination.
He said the restructuring undertaken at the Local Government Service under the tutelage of Mr Oppong-Fosu and his previous performance in the various positions he held were enough grounds to qualify him for the job.
Story by Kwame Asare Boadu
