Former Minister of Local Government under the erstwhile Kufour’s administration, Kwadwo Adjei Darko has blamed the recent attack on Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation by angry members of vigilante group, Delta force in the Ashanti Region on what he calls “weak systems”.
According to the former minister, it will be proper if Parliament would enact laws that takes care of how a civil servant such as District Chief Executives (DCEs), Members of Parliament (MPs) can be removed from office by the involvement of the electorates over his/her failure to remain accountable to the people.
There was heavy tension at Tafo-Pankrono Constituency in the Ashanti Region over the weekend when aggrieved members of the Pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta force, stormed a meeting organised by the party executives to demand answers of failed promises and neglect from their MP.
Although reports has it that Dr. Osei wasn’t physically assaulted, members of the group accused him of unfulfilled promises made to them in the lead up to the 2016 general elections.
However speaking to Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM, Mr. Adjei-Darko said the absences of a legislation to regulate the activities of vigilante groups and also laws that guide the removal from office civil servant whose conduct is seen as reprehensible contributed to “weak systems”.
“All of this can be solved if we have a system that helps. A system which ensures that, I am accountable to the people whether it’s a DCE, MP or even a minister. The president knows he is accountable to the people that is why in spite of his busy schedules, he still makes time to tour parts of the country to interact with the people. When he is called for a function he goes because he won’t sit in the Jubilee house for four years.
“So if you are an MP or a Minister and the system is such that you are accountable to the people while doing your work in Accra, it will make you think about your future and also do the work well” he added.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the party in the constituency said the Delta Force team members were not after the MP.
“I want to state that indeed some faceless people came to cause mayhem and disturbed our meeting with our MP Hon. Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, but the target was not on our Honorable Member of Parliament but some of our Constituency executive members,” a statement signed by the NPP’s Communication Officer for Tafo Pankrono constituency, Moah Gregory stated.
The statement further condemned the act by the Delta Force team describing it as “unwarranted and reckless”
“We therefore call all our executives of the constituency and the entire NPP fraternity in the country to remain calm as the executives are meeting to bring a lasting solution to it,” the statement added.]
By: Alex Semordzi
