President John Mahama was influenced by chiefs and traditional leaders from the Ahafo Ano South District in the Ashanti Region, to renominate the sacked ‘Tweaa’ DCE, according to the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development.
The DCE, Gabriel Barima was dismissed after he angrily chided health workers in his district for a comment made by an unidentified person.
Mr. Barima, after telling the workers off, stormed out of a durbar, which was attended by some chiefs in the area.
A video recording of the incident went viral, igniting national outrage with many describing his actions as disrespectful.
The president’s decision to renominate Mr. Barimah generated huge debate, with some Ghanaians questioning the reason behind the President’s decision.
But according to the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Julius Debrah, “the chiefs drove all the way to Accra to see the President and pleaded with him, it is difficult for the president to look eye ball to eye ball… Though the president was in a difficult condition, he looked at that factor and gave the chiefs the respect they deserved.”
The Minister however hoped that the DCE would indeed show he is remorseful and behave well as a public office holder.
“I want to believe this gentleman has learnt his lessons and others will also learn from it. If you trample upon the power given you by the people you can lose your job,” he said.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has described as “good news,” attempts by President John Mahama to reinstate Gabriel Barima, former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti region.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, a very powerful man in the NDC was believed to have also influenced the president’s decision after calling for the DCE’s reinstatement.
