President John Dramani Mahama has with immediate effect withdrawn the appointment of Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel K. Sarpong, and his Deputy, Joseph Yammin.
A statement signed by Minister for Communications Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said, “Brong Ahafo Regional Minister Eric Opoku will act as Ashanti Regional Minister until a substantive Minister is appointed.”
A statement signed by Minister for Communications Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister Eric Opoku will act as Ashanti Regional Minister until a substantive Minister is appointed.
It is unclear yet what influenced President John Mahama’s decision.
NDC forced Samuel K. Sarpong out?
In January, there were reports that the relationship between Mr. Sarpong and his Deputy, Joseph Yarmin, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Kojo Bonsu and the Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, had deteriorated.
Mr Samuel Sarpong, however denied there is a rift between him and some of party officials and appointees in the region.
On Tuesday, a group of persons owing allegiance to the Minister allegedly went to the regional office to close down the party’s offices in the region.
The deputy Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NDC Brogya Gyamfi who spoke to the various media houses about the incident blamed the Regional Minister for the incident.
Sack Minister
A group calling itself the National Democratic Congress(NDC) Zongo Youth of Ashanti last month called on President Mahama to sack the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Samuel Sarpong.
The group said the continuous stay of the Minister in office will jeopardize the NDC’s chances of winning the 2016 elections in the region.
Convener of the group, Abass Nurudeen earlier told Citi News the Minister, among others, has developed a bad working relationship with party executives in the region, hence their call.
Traders against Minister
Some of the traders in Kumasi in the Ashanti Regional capital have on different occasions also demonstrated against the Minister and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly over issues surrounding their burnt markets.
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By: Nana Boakye-Yiadom/citifmonline.com/Ghana