Tension is gradually mounting in the Akatsi North Constituency between the youth of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Simon Peter Ofosu, following suspicion by the youth that he had teamed up with their opponent, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to retain the seat for his selfish gains.
As a result, the youth have called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to remove the DCE from office for the party to make inroads in the 2024 elections.
Addressing a news conference at the district capital, Ave-Dakpa, the Constituency Youth Organiser, Mr. Nasiru Zakari, alleged that the DCE had teamed up with the NDC executives in the constituency, and had neglected that of the NPP.
He said the cordial relationship the DCE was having with the NDC posed a serious threat to the NPP, which gave him the DCE position, and that the gains made by the ruling party in the 2020 parliamentary election by increasing NPP parliamentary votes from one thousand to four thousand when the DCE was the candidate could be reduced in 2024.
The Constituency Youth Organiser alleged that the DCE did not love the party. He claimed that the youth of the party recently organised fun games to rejuvenate the base of the NPP, and that when the DEC was contacted to provide water for the participants, he turned it down.
Mr. Zakari continued that the NPP still had the opportunity to take the Akatsi North seat in the 2024 general election, of which the NDC was aware. To him, the DCE hobnobbing with the NDC in the constituency would create the opportunity for the opposition party to solidify its support in the area.
He pointed out that the poor relationship between Mr. Ofosu and the party, coupled with the deliberate practice by the DCE not to engage in development projects to boost the party’s chances, were some of the machinations to ensure that the NDC retained the seat.
When contacted, Mr. Simon Peter Ofosu, the DCE, denied all the allegations, saying they were not true, and that it was a deliberate attempt to tarnish his hard earned reputation.
According to him, he had always been communicating with the leadership of the party in the area, particularly on development programmes.
He also denied that he turned down the request to provide water for football games recently organised by the youth of the party. According to him, he bought water for all those who took part in the games to drink, which was contrary to what the Youth Organiser had told the media.
According to Mr. Ofosu, the call for his removal from office was being politically motivated, because he had information that some of the party executives were preparing to contest him at the primary
