The Deputy Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has jumped to the defense of jailed Twifo Atti Morkwa District Chief Executive (DCE) Bossman Osei Hyeaman.
According to the Deputy Minister, the DCE was a hard-working man who was “stressed” and “frustrated” with happenings in his district.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye stated that the situation may have driven Mr. Hyeaman to react badly to the bailiff leading to his incarceration.
Hyeaman, was on Monday sentenced to 14 days imprisonment by the Cape Coast High Court for contempt.
Related[contextly_sidebar id=”ObMJXMXJOuotQimldKryne25Js5wI8T1″]He is said to have demolished a market at Twifo Praso despite a stay of execution against the exercise.
The bailiff who was sent to serve him the summons was alleged to have been verbally assaulted by Hyeaman who described the judges as “corrupt and thieves.”
Hyeaman is also said to have threatened to beat the bailiff if he did not leave his office.
This incident led to his incarceration.
Speaking at the launch of the Center for Local Governance Advocacy in Accra, Mr. Vanderpuye recalled that the incarcerated DCE came to his office to complain about the difficulties he was facing in his attempt to relocate the market women from the old market to the new European Union Market which had been constructed by the Assembly.
“He was virtually crying; we’ve built this market but people don’t want to go because of two, three people and the money they care making and the people by the road side are engineering them not to go to the new market,” he complained.
According to the Deputy Minister, if the DCE had gone through an emotional management, “maybe the way he reacted to the bailiff wouldn’t have been the case. Today, he is jail for his desire to do something for his community.”
In a related development, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Central Region has expressed shock at the Cape Coast High Court ruling.
The party admitted that although the DCE had faulted, his apology should have made the judge, “temper justice with mercy.”
This is the second time a DCE has been penalized for gross misconduct.
In March, the DCE for Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti Region, Gabriel Barima who made the word “twea” popular was dismissed by the President John for verbally abusing some of his constituents at a ceremony.
–
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan