Chiefs from Gwira Traditional Council (GTC) in the Nzema East Municipality of the western region have reacted angrily to the alleged removal of the name of their son, Eric Ogbame Selby, from the list of aspirants in the race to serve as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly.
The chiefs, who could not understand why their son’s name was removed from the list of aspirants, have appealed to the party in the region to reconsider their decision.
The GTC, in a petition dated January 19, 2021 and addressed to President Akuffo Addo, appealed to him to intervene in the matter.
The petition, titled ‘Consider Mr. Eric Ogbame Selby from Gwira Traditional Area for the Nzema East Municipal Executive’ and signed by the president of the Council, Awulae Angamatuo Gyan II, also endorsed the candidature of Ogbame Selby for the MCE position.
The petition read in part: “we, the chiefs and people of Gwira area humbly appeal and request your Excellency, the president of Ghana to consider our son, Eric Ogbame Selby, a card bearing member of the ruling party to the high office of Municipal Chief Executive of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly.”
Endorsed by other two traditional leaders from Evalue and Ajomoro, the chiefs, who make up the three traditional areas, expressed the hope that their son would be considered for the position, considering that none of the indigenes of the above-mentioned areas have served in any political position.
The chiefs were sure that this time a native of Gwira would be considered for the position. Regrettably, the opposite appears to be the case, considering that Ogbame Selby, after successfully making the mark at the vetting for the position, has had his name strangely removed from the list of aspirants for the MCE position.
Eric Ogbame Selby holds a MA in Business Administration, Finance, from the University of Ghana.
Ogbame Selby, Frank Okponyen, the incumbent MCE and Dorcas Amoah were the first three shortlisted for national vetting to be considered for the Nzema East MCE position, but rather strangely Ogbame’s name was dropped. This development is what appears to have infuriated the chiefs.
The Queen mother and Divisional Chief of Assuawuah, Nana Neren II, who spoke to this reporter in a telephone interview, could not understand why their son (Ogbame Selby) would have his name removed from the list.
Confirming that the traditional Council endorses the candidature of their son for the MCE position, Nana Neren demanded the name of their son to be restored by those behind the plot.
She said for Ogbame Selby to make the mark at the vetting but have his name removed from the list is not what they would support.
“We will not hesitate to demonstrate over the development if the plot is not reversed to have our sons name restored. They did this to him when he wanted to contest for MP in the last election and they are doing it again. I don’t understand why they will do this to a brilliant young man,” she said.
A worried Nana Neren told this reporter that the chiefs and Queen mothers of the Council were holding talks on the next line of action.
“As I talk to you now, we are holding talks about the next line of action and one of it is a possible press conference”.
The Regional Minister, who is the chairman of the vetting committee, has refused to comment as to whether the aspirant’s name has been removed from the list or not. He told this reporter that “my work is for the national team so I cannot comment on the list”.
Several attempts made to speak to the regional Chairman, Francis Ndede Siah, who is a member of the vetting committee proved futile as he failed to respond to our calls.
Ogbame himself confirmed in a telephone interview that his name has been dropped from the list.
“People close to the vetting committee have called several times to inform me that my name has been removed from the list,” he said.
Ogbame was prevented by the regional executives of the ruling party from contesting the parliamentary seat.
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