President John Dramani Mahama has on his first day in office revoked the appointments of all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) appointed by his predecessor ex-President Akufo-Addo.
The revocation of their appointments take effect today January 8, 2025.
An official statement dated January 8, signed by the President Secretary, Callistus Mahama quoted relevant portions of the Local Government Act to justify the sacking of the appointees.
“In accordance with the power vested in H. E. John Dramani Mahama under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 996) as amended by the Local Government (Amendended), Act, 2017, (Act940), the following appointments have revoked effective today.
In the meantime, the statement addressed to the Chief Director at the Ministry of Local Government, Centralisation and Rural Development directed that Coordinating Directors to take over the running of the assemblies until substantive MMDCEs are appointed.
“In the interim, the respective Coordinating Directors of the various MMDAs are directed to assume responsibility as acting Chief Executives until substantive appointments are duly made”, it added.
The last time the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won political power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2009, the then president Prof JEA Mills allowed these appointees of former President John Kufuor to stay on for a number of months.
This ‘father for all’ decision did not go down well with the party’s base and it appears the new president, who was vice president then, has taken a cue from it.
It is believed their delayed sack empowered them to destroy or hide information and evidences of wrong doing.
Since the December 7 general election which saw the New Patriotic Party (NPP) losing heavily to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) there have been accusations of some of these appointees trying to hide government properties including food products, fertilizer among others.
This has forced some alleged angry NDC footsoilders to storm these offices and government warehouses across the country to seize these items for protection. It is hoped the latest decision by the president will calm nerves of these party footsoldiers.
