Angry chiefs call for dismissal of Atwima-Nwabiagya South MCE

President, Nana Akufo-Addo, may have to get a more suitable Municipal Chief  Executive (MCE) capable of working in unity and peace with the Chiefs and people of Atwima-Nwabiagya South because the current one, Michael Amoah Awuku, seems to have fallen off with the people and is in constant confrontation with them, rapidly eroding the goodwill for the government that put him there.

The current acrimonious situation and the continuous nature of it certainly affects productivity negatively when the chief representative of the Central Government in Atwima-Nwabiagya South who is tasked to provide political and administrative leadership locks horns with traditional leadership and other relevant development partners and stakeholders who ought to be working in unison.

In the midst of growing and continuous protests against the re-nomination of Michael Amoah Awuku to the position of MCE,  he has again been accused of victimizing traditional authorities in the area, especially the ones perceived, without evidence,  to be against his re-nomination.

The Chief of Makro, Baffour Owusu Afriyie, has said he is the most recent sufferer of such victimizations from the hands of Michael Amoah Awuku.

The Chief says he suspects that because he does not support the re-nomination of the MCE, the latter has ignited some court summons against him ostensibly to get back at him for opposing the re-nomination.

Baffour Owusu Afriyie said he agrees perfectly that the courts are independent and doing their work as authorized by the constitution but it is curious that the summons against him got activated only after his opposition to the MCE’s re-nomination.

Chief of Makro said the MCE had threatened to show him where power lies and that he believes the court summons is one of the ways of showing him where the said power lies.

Meanwhile, the summons, sighted by The New Publisher said the attendance of Baffour Owusu Afriyie in court was necessitated by a complaint of “putting up unauthorized buildings thereby obstructing public layout”.

It said Baffour Owusu Afriyie was being “commanded in person before the court on the 20th  day of May, 2021 and on every adjournment of the Court until the case if disposed of”  for “failing to adhere to stop work notice contrary to section 91 Act 936 of  Local Government Act 2016”

Baffour Owusu Afriyie, the Chief of Makro said all attempts to reach an amicable settlement of the issues with the MCE’s office using alternative dispute resolution means did not work because , the MCE was not co-operative but rather stood his grounds and bragged that he would show the Chief where power lies.

This latest development comes in the wake of accusations by some chiefs that Mr. Michael Amoah Awuku is undermining their authority in the area amidst acts of intimidation despite the roles they play as development partners

Residents and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who recently held demonstrations against moves to impose him, have sounded alarm bells that the elephant family risks jeopardizing its chances in the 2024 polls if he is imposed on them as MCE

Recently, a Divisional Chief from Nkawie was engaged in heated exchanges with the MCE on a local radio station leading to the traditional ruler warning that his gross insubordination against them will not be taken lightly henceforth.

This is aside the brawl he recently had with Otumfuo Asantehene’s Abrafo Hene who led a delegation of Chiefs to the Presidency to congratulate him after the 2020 polls.

Meanwhile, Constituency Organizer, Mr. Jude Thaddeus Takyi Opoku claims the MCE has used his position to promote the development the Municipality, especially in the areas of education, health, power, road construction, job creation

PROTESTS                                                       

Some residents,  in March, were up in arms against national and regional executives who were said to be muting the idea of retaining him compelling them to hit the streets in protest.

Armed police and military personnel were unleashed on the streets to disperse the demonstrators who insisted the current MCE is incompetent, disrespectful to traditional authorities and not fit to be given a second term after his tenure elapsed on January 7, 2021.

In a petition to the President on why Michael Amoah Awuku  must not continue as MCE, the aggrieved residents indicated that his presence caused a huge party disunity which lead to the MP obtaining little over 46,000 votes while President had over 58,000 votes an indication of more than 20% difference.

Michael Amoah Awuku   has consistently denied the allegations against him.