The Cape Coast Metropolis was yesterday awashed with red posters and banners in demand for the dismissal of the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Ernest Arthur.
The hoisted red banners had the inscriptions “enough is enough, Ernest Arthur must go”, “don’t appoint slapping MCE”, MCE is disrespectful, works with only cronies.”
The move comes on the back of incessant demand for the removal of the MCE and the unprecedented rush for his position, which gives credence to his abysmal performance during his tenure.
However, later in the day, a press release signed by Mr. Jonathan AmoahBaidoo, on behalf of a group calling itself Grassroot Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) appealed to President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo not to appoint Mr Arthur as the MCE.
“We appeal to President Akufo-Addo to reject any moves by some self-seeking faceless regional and national executives lobbying for intolerant MCE to be re-appointment.”
The statement pledged to vehemently resist such moves saying “for us to break the eight, is not by words but by our deeds, hard work and God’s favour. We would like to state as a matter of fact that, the MCE still harbours his MP ambition and when given the second chance, will do worse things to further bring the party down.”
It described the MCE as an epitome of an awful leader who was only interested in awarding contract and created opportunities to his friends and cronies.
The Group also said the MCE had been an embodiment of disrespect and absolute disregard for subordinates who slaps with the least provocation or disagreement.
He uses abusive language and insults anyone when he feels irked by the least provocation, abuse the workers of the assembly verbally as well as party people, the statement said, adding that such traits caused a great deal of disaffection for the party and didn’t come as a surprise when he lost the seat to the NDC in Cape Coaat South.
It also mentioned the MCE as someone with a poor human relations and a symbol of disunity among party members which had forced his Constituency to contest the MCE post.”
Additionally, they described the MCE as self-centered and dedicated to working in the Cape Coast South Constituency which is in fulfilment of his desire to 1
They cited his selfish act was witnessed during the COVID-19 era before the election 2020 where almost all the COVID-19 relief items which were meant for the assembly was in most cases distributed by himself leaving the north out.
The lack of development in the Cape Coast North, according to them, resulted in the abysmal performance of the party in the 2020 general elections.
The statement said: “The MCE over concentrated on Cape Coast South due to his ambition to become the MP for there. We are not against anyone’s political ambition, however, that led to the total neglect of Cape Coast North. Probably he forgot that the metro is made up of two constituencies.”
They indicated that almost all his official activities as MCE were centered at the Cape Coaat South leading to a total neglect of the North.
“The MCE contributed to the defeat of our former Cape Coast North MP, Mrs Barbara Asher Ayisi. It will interest you to know that, the MCE ceased almost all correspondents relating to central government and the assembly’s projects which were being undertaken in Cape Coast North with the MP then.”
” A clear example was the attempt by the then MP to open the Abura police station where the former MP’s effort was thwarted by the MCE when he consistently turned a blind eye to it even she after paid about GHC80,000 to be completed,” the group said.
