Volta DCEs Boycott NDC Dues

Credible information reaching the Daily Guide newspaper indicates that the 18 Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Volta region have boycotted a monthly contribution of not less than GH�500 to the Regional Secretariat of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The money, which is allegedly paid through the Regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode, to the regional executives, amounts to over GH�10,000 per month.

It is not clear where the MDCEs were milking that money from, but it is believed that the money was to show gratitude to the party for their appointment and also support party activities in the region.

It is also believed that the regional minister and the deputy regional minister also make similar contributions to the party.

Their boycott, according to sources close to some of the MDCEs, is to register their displeasure against some of the regional executives whom they claimed were behind the agitations and tension in the various districts and municipalities.

Currently, the MDCEs have not paid their dues, which has accumulated to about GH�140,000, being dues for the past four months; a situation which has adversely affected the finances and activities of the party in the region.

It has also sparked some rancour between the MDCEs and the regional executives. The sources said the MDCEs explained the reason for their boycott at a crunch meeting which was held on Sunday, October, 23, 2011 at the residency, a few days after President John Evans Atta Mills� tour of the region was called off.

The President was suppose to begin his tour of the region on Tuesday, October 18, but the meeting was called off due to what the VRCC claimed was unfavourable weather condition.

According to party members and residents however, the tour was called off due to unfavourable political atmosphere and the slow pace of developmental projects in the region.

They explained that this was what called for the crunch meeting which brought together MDCEs, ministers, constituency and regional party executives, MPs and other party bigwigs from the region to chart a way forward and tighten the loose ends before the President�s tour.

Among the items discussed at the meeting, which a source confirmed was chaired by Dan Kwasi Abodakpi, Ghana�s High Commissioner to Malaysia, were the Volta University, the Eastern corridor road and other road projects across the region, GETFund projects, water accessibility and instability within the party in the region.

The Adaklu Anyigbe District Chief Executive, Michael Kobla Adzaho, who is the chairman of the MDCEs, explained that they had unanimously agreed and boycotted the payment of the monthly GH�500 due to certain elements among the regional executives, whom he claimed were the brains behind the unrest in their districts and municipalities.

The source said Mr. Adzaho categorically mentioned the Regional Organiser, Henry Ametefe, as the mastermind behind most of the agitations by party members and youth in the various districts.

He added that votes of no confidence, demonstrations, press conferences and other activities hampering their peaceful administration of their districts and municipalities were instigated by Mr. Ametefe.

At the time of the claims, Mr. Ametefe was not present, but when he was called to react to the allegations, he remained quite till the end of the meeting.

The MDCEs also accused the regional executives of not commending them to the national officers and the presidency, a phenomenon they found unfavourable to them.

Mr. Adzaho therefore stressed that until something substantial was done to rectify the situation, they would not pay the GH�500 monthly dues.

They would rather prefer to pay that to the constituency executives than the regional executives.

This November will be the fifth month in a row since the MDCEs paid their donations and nothing has been done to reverse the situation.

When the Adaklu Anyigbe DCE was contacted, he denied the existence of any dues or donation of that sort and said it was just a rumour and a wild joke.

The Regional Organiser, Henry Ametefe, also maintained that there were no dues or donations of that kind.

He added that it was only a joke or probably the work of some detractors of the NDC, who were feeding the public with lies.

The Regional Chairman, Kwesi Aboagye, also denied the existence of the monthly donation. He however noted that some MDCEs made personal donations and gift presentations once in a while, adding that those donations were voluntary.

He added that �if that is what you mean by monthly dues or donations then I�m sorry you got wrong information.� Mr. Aboagye added that the party could not compel the MDCEs to pay any money against their will.

Source: Fred Duodu, Ho