The National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth organiser in the Western Region, Mr Kwabena Afriyie, has justified why party members stormed and locked down the National Service Secretariat (NSS) building six in protest of the appointment.
He told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5 that they are unhappy with the appointment of a non-Westerner to head the regional office of the Secretariat.
The youth organiser said nothing will make them change their bonds unless a new person who is from the region is nominated.
He revealed that despite engagements held between them and the NSS, their concerns have not been addressed.
“We have adequately competent persons in the Western region to hold such a position, so why bring someone from the Upper East region?” We have engaged with the NSS over the matter and negotiated with them, but they refused to listen to us. So if we have used persuasion to have the issues addressed and seen no results, force must be applied. That is why we have locked up the offices.
We are not doubting the competencies of the person appointed, but our concern is that the person is not from the Western Region. There are competent persons from the region who can also be appointed. That is our concern.
According to him, “Someone from the Upper East Region has been appointed to lead the office, a decision we regard as disrespectful to the people of the Western Region. We are demanding an immediate reversal of the decision. If they fail to oblige, we will not allow the office to operate until a native of the Western Region is appointed.
He added that there have been several positions and appointments that authorities have bypassed competent persons from the region and brought in people from other regions, which they have not complained about, but “for this particular position, we will not allow them to take us for granted again. If they want the NSS office in the region to operate, they have to reverse the appointment.
When asked if he was aware they were breaking the law, he said, “The laws were made for man and not man for the laws. So far as we are humans, there is the possibility that we will break the law. If our demands are met, we will allow them to reopen the office.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
