The race for the District Chief Executive position in the Nkwanta North District took an interesting twist when Konkomba youth clashed in a scuffle over the shortlisted applicants.
While some of the youth supported the three shortlisted applicants, others believed Konkombas had been marginalized in the process.
Fourteen aspirants were shortlisted for the District Chief Executive positions in the Oti Region.
However, some Konkomba youth strongly opposed the list, arguing that their tribesmen who applied were unfairly excluded.
The group, led by some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized the vetting committee led by Oti Regional Minister John Kwadwo Gyapong for not shortlisting any of the 17 Konkombas who applied for the Municipal and District Chief Executive (MDCE) positions in the region.
Addressing the press, the Nkwanta North NDC Deputy Communications Officer, Gideon Bilinyi, accused Mr. Gyapong of leading a deliberate agenda against Konkombas, citing a viral audio in which the minister allegedly expressed disapproval of appointing Konkombas to public office.
In the tape, Mr. Gyapong was reportedly heard saying, “So, when you are talking about Oti, for me, to talk about Konkombas, I will talk about Ewes. You think of the Konkombas? No, trust the Ewes because they dominate.”
This, according to the group, explains why all 17 Konkomba candidates were excluded from the MDCE shortlist.
However, another faction argued that the committee conducted a fair vetting process and gave all candidates equal opportunities before selecting the most qualified ones.
A spokesperson for this faction, Ernest Lagsah, alleged that Nkwanta North MP John Oti Bless attempted to influence the process by pushing for his preferred candidate, Anthony Kwesi Ntefui, who, according to Lagsah, performed poorly during the vetting.
“Hon. John O.K. Bless attempted to corrupt the process by compromising the standards set for the committee. He insisted that his choice, Mr. Anthony Kwesi Ntefui, who performed woefully during the process, be included in the list. However, the committee disagreed, so he resorted to inciting his supporters to accuse the Regional Minister of bias against Konkombas,” Lagsah stated at a press conference in Kpassa.
He maintained that all shortlisted candidates were qualified for the position and urged President Mahama to appoint the most suitable candidate to lead the Nkwanta North District.
“If His Excellency John Dramani Mahama finds them [shortlisted applicants] worthy, we encourage him to appoint any of them as our District Chief Executive in fulfillment of the provisions of the constitution and his promise to ensure balance in his appointments,” he added.
Mr. Lagsah acknowledged the contributions of other tribes in the Oti Region to the NDC’s victory and the election of Konkomba candidates in the parliamentary seats of Krachi Nchumuru, Krachi East, and Nkwanta North constituencies.
However, during the press conference, a violent clash erupted between the two factions. The situation was quickly brought under control by the Chief of Kpassa, Ubor Tassan Konja IV, preventing potential bloodshed.
Ubor Tassan Konja IV called for peace and urged both factions to accept whoever President Mahama appoints.
“Everyone cannot be DCE. Let us support whoever is appointed to the position. What we want is development and progress. I am pleading with you. I don’t want us to experience the repercussions of the tribal conflict in 2012. President Mahama will appoint whoever qualifies to lead us,” he stressed.
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