Prez suspends Upper West Reg. Minister Sulemana Alhassan

Sulemana Alhassan being introduced by President Akufo-Addo when he was nominated[/caption] The Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan, has been suspended by President Akufo-Addo for allegedly shielding thugs who attacked officials of NADMO in the region. Staff of the National Disaster Management Organization who accused the minister of protecting hooligans have vowed not to work again until the attackers believe to be members of the governing New Patriotic Party are arrested. Meanwhile, a statement from the presidency on Thursday said Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan has been suspended with  immediate effect. “The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has suspended, with immediate effect from office, the Minister for the Upper West Region, Alhaji Sulemana Alhassan, pending the outcome of the investigation into the unfortunate incidents that occurred at the premises of the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in Wa, on Wednesday, 31. January, 2018.” The statement signed by the Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin said, “President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.” The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Amidu Ishaq will act as the Regional Minister in the interim, pending the conclusion of the investigation, the statement added. UNPROFESSIONAL AND ANNOYING Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, Erica Sieyi, told journalists on Thursday morning that the “situation is worrying, annoying and unprofessional”, pointing out that what the minister did shows that he “doesn’t care about our lives. It also sends us a message that the Regional Minister Alhaji Sulemana Alhassana will at any time choose the interest of some few people over the safety of his workers.” She recounted Wednesday’s incident: “On the 31^st January 2018, at about 4:55pm, a group of people numbering about 30, arrived at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) forecourt in cars. These angrily looking people besieged the regional office of NADMO seeking to beat up all NADMO staff… “In an attempt to break into the Regional Director’s office, his aid prevented them for a short while, but they eventually overpowered him…The police were called to intervene in the situation. They came to arrest some of the individuals but the Regional Minister prevented their arrest.” By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana]]>