Minister Dan Botwe Dispels Rumors: President Akufo-Addo’s Decision on DCEs Not Linked to Party Primaries
In a recent interview on Asaase Radio in Accra, Dan Botwe, the Minister of Local Government and Decentralisation, vehemently refuted claims suggesting that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to revoke the appointments of 24 District Chief Executives (DCEs) was influenced by their stance in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries.
Contrary to reports alleging that the dismissals were connected to the DCEs’ support or lack thereof for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the party’s primaries, Minister Botwe labeled these assertions as false. He urged scrutiny of the primary election data, emphasizing that figures from the Electoral Commission and media outlets would debunk such claims.
“In all the 275 constituencies that the primaries were held, the figures are there, the Electoral Commission and media have the figures, so one will have to rank them from the least to see whether this supports those assertions [reports],” he clarified. “It is totally false …,” Botwe added.
President Akufo-Addo, in an unexpected move on February 2, revoked the appointments of 24 DCEs across the country, leaving the public speculating about the reasons behind the decision. While no specific reasons were provided, certain reports insinuated that the dismissals targeted areas where 2024 presidential candidate Mahamudu Bawumia had performed poorly in the party’s primaries last year.
Addressing the issue, the President released a statement on February 3, asserting, “According to my letter on February 2, 2024, and following article 243 (1) of the Constitution, I have made the following nominations to the office of Chief Executive of the following Municipal and District Assemblies.” This action, he emphasized, reflects a commitment to ensuring effective governance and leadership at the municipal and district levels.
As the political landscape unfolds, the nation remains keenly observant of the developments surrounding these administrative changes, seeking clarity on the motivations behind the reshuffling of key positions within the municipal and district assemblies.
