Some youth in the Ejisu-Juabeng Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region are protesting the nomination of Beatrice Serwaah Derchie as Municipal Chief Executive for the area.
Though they said they appreciate the prerogative of the President to decide who gets the nod to serve in his government, the the appointment of Madam Derchie is an imposition.
In a statement issued Friday, the youth described the decision as “an ‘error’ of historic proportions, and must be corrected immediately to avert any political damage that could cause resentment among the rank and file of our party in the municipality”.
On Friday, the youth who are members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathered at the party’s constituency office in Ejisu to register their displeasure at the nominee.
They carried a live sheep, eggs and schnapps to perform rituals to curse the party’s leadership in the region for failing to serve the interest of the people they represent in making a decision of nominating an MCE.
“We petitioned the party chairman and regional minister, but they failed to get back to us. They are resolved to impose the woman on us but we’ll not accept this,” said Kwaku Acheampong, youth wing chairman.
The curses were also to be evoked against assembly members who will vote to confirm the nominee.
The act was however aborted following the intervention of the NPP Youth Organizer at Ejisu, Henry Duah Boateng, who pleaded with the youth to rescind their decision.
“With what the youth wanted to do, I personally think that it would have been a disgrace to the party that is why I quickly rushed in,” he explained.
He enjoined the aggrieved youth to take their agitations to the assembly where the nominee would be approved or denied.
Madam Derchie was among four other candidates vying for the MCE position.
But even before she emerged as the President’s nominee, some party members and youth groups in the area demonstrated against her candidature, claiming she is not a native of the area and has done least to the political fortunes of Ejisu-Juabeng Municipality.
“We cannot pretend to be satisfied with the president’s decision, as our people feel used and dumped and disrespected,” said Nana Osei Bonsu, Convener of the Ejisu-Juaben NPP Youth Wing Executives.
By Kofi Adu Domfeh|3news.com|Ghana