Opinion leaders of EKMA demands competent leader . . . as they wait anxiously on Prez Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo is expected to announce the name of the new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality in the Western Region.

The Municipality was carved out of Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) last year and therefore requires a new team to shoulder challenges facing the area and how the Assembly is going to be governed or managed.

But, before the President comes out with his preferred nominee for the position, opinion leaders, the chiefs and people of the Municipality are appealing to him to consider competence, good leadership qualities as the main criteria to determine the leadership of the new Municipality.

According to them, any attempt to sidestep the aforementioned qualities, would compound challenges facing the area and render the peri-urban communities within the Municipality vulnerable.

Speaking in an interview, the concerned residents from various parts of the Municipality said since President Akuffo Addo campaigned on the back of competence against incompetence to win power, they believe strongly that he would do the right thing by appointing a very dynamic person to manage the Assembly.

"The nominee must have requisite knowledge to work towards addressing the avalanche of challenges confronting the Municipality" Emmanuel Addae, one of the opinion leaders said.

Daniel Amidu Suffa, one of the teachers in the Municipality said many who are concerned about the development of the Municipality, would feel highly disappointed if Nana Addo settles on someone who would not be capable of identifying the problems facing the people and all the communities in the Municipality, and has the capacity to work towards addressing them.

"Although President Akufo-Addo has the prerogative to appoint the Municipal Chief Executive, he must be guided by the qualities that leadership for the position requires thus competence, ability to understand issues better, relate strategically with relevant stakeholder institutions to assist in carrying out the development of the Municipality.

Remember the campaign message of the NPP in opposition, that the NDC was incompetent.

"As reported by Graphic online on 4th December 2016, The Vice President Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia said at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra that "That is why I said before that when you have corruption and you add incompetence, it leads to an explosion of wahala all over the place" he made subtly inference to draw inspiration.

For Sarah Afful, an ardent trader doing business at Apremdo market within the Municipality, the records of all the persons vying for the position must be well reviewed by the President

Gregory Otoo, one of the social commentators advocating that the MCE must be competent as requires by NPP, had this to say.

"We expect the President to consider the achievements of the applicants and make the right decision for the Municipality"

Many of the Assembly Members making up the new Municipality say, they expect nothing but the best material for the Assembly. They have therefore warned against any attempt to impose any incompetent person on the Assembly.

"If any incompetent person is appointed, I can assure you, we the Assembly Members would reject that person during his confirmation" one of the Assembly Members said.

The eight applicants vying for the position are, Ato Van-Ess, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kweku Twum Barimah, a development consultant, Samuel K. Anderson, Assembly Member for West Tanokrom, Nii Addy, Effia Constituency chairman, John Davies, Presiding Member of the Assembly, Kojo Aquah, a former Western Regional Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Yaw Emmanuel Issah, a former Constituency Executive for Effia-Kwesimintsim, and one Mintah.

The eight applicants have already gone through vetting process but only three of the qualified names would be submitted to the President for consideration

But, stakeholders in the Municipality say, the person to be appointed must be an outstanding character with impeccable performance record in leadership, administration or governance.