'Birim North  DCE Respect Chiefs  And Elders'

The dirty plot being hatched by some self seeking individuals to create impression that the District Chief Executive for Birim North Assembly in the Eastern Region, Mr Raymond Nana Damptey has disrespected the chiefs and some elders of the various towns and villages within the district has completely hit the rocks.

According to some prominent chiefs and elders of the area, they didn't have any hand in the recent media reports which claimed that the DCE has been asked by the chiefs to slaughter 37 sheeps in addition with schnapps to apologize to each of the 37 chiefs he disrespected during his first term in office.

They explained that the DCE since he was appointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 and subsequently the 2021 to steer the administrative affairs of the Assembly, he showed a gross respect to the chiefs and their kidsmen.

The chiefs in a random interview stated they were suprised to hear the news during the recent newspapers review on the UTV being carried out by The Finder and The Chronicle newspapers.

In that report, the newspapers reported that the chiefs led by President of Birim North District Association of Chiefs Obrempong Akwasi Amoh Kyeretwie I charged the DCE to go to each of the 37 sub-chiefs with a sheep and Schnapp to apologize to them.

The report indicated that 37 chiefs in Birim North District in the Eastern Region passed a vote of no confidence in the District Chief Executive for the area, Raymond Nana Damptey.

"The votes of no confidence by the Chiefs were passed Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at Abirim ahead of the nomination of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.

"Out of the 42 Chiefs present, 37 voted against the DCE while 4 voted for him with one spoilt ballot," the report noted.

The Convener, Obrempong Kwasi Amo Tweretwie I, Chief of New Abirem accused the DCE of disrespect, incompetence, and corruption.

He accused the DCE of meddling in Chieftaincy disputes at Abodom and Ntronang as examples. 

“In most of these disputes, it turned very violent and bloody. The DCE attack the Chiefs on his Ananse FM station and during assembly meetings and also attack by the various assigns of the DCE. 

They cited the attack on the Chiefs and the President of the Republic by one staunch supporter of the DCE by the name Ama Abrafi.  Refusal of the DCE to recognize the Chiefs in making key decisions affecting the district.”

The chiefs officially communicated their decision to the office of the President with copies to the Vice President, Chief of Staff, Local Government Minister, and the Eastern Regional Minister.

However, some of the prominent chiefs who spoke to this reporter in the condition of ananomity denied being associated with the media report, saying that they did not know where  President of Birim North District Association of Chiefs, Obrempong Akwasi Amoh Kyeretwie has gotten his information that he has published in the newspapers.

"We are to be the last persons to criticize Mr Raymond Nana Damptey of any wrong doing against us because the DCE is the pillar of peace and he also relate to us and everybody well in the district, so we are saying that the allegations against the DCE of being meddling in chieftaincy disputes and disrespect of the chiefs in the traditional areas are plots being hatched to soil him reputation to look bad in the eye of the public and should be treated as fallacies," some chief told the journalists.

Addressing a press conference in New Abirem to set the record straight about the issue, the DCE stated that he show minimum respect to all his chiefs and elders, adding that he has been in a good talking term with every chiefs in the traditional areas within the district.
 
 He denied claims that he has being meddled in chieftaincy disputes indisputes at Abodom and Ntronang.

He further rubbished allegations that he   
has been ordered by the chiefs to slaughter about 37 sheeps before making amends with them.

"I want to make it clear that l have no problems with any chief (Nananom) of Abirem.l have been working together peacefully with all my chiefs ever since l assume office. Even I would be the last person to disregard my chiefs, l must say that the chiefs are working to support me to bring the local government policy systems closer to the doorsteps of the constituents," the DCE declared. 

Mr Damptey threatened legal action against the Bryt FM which is the radio station based in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

He indicated that his investigations had  proven that the reporter of Bryt FM was the originator of the fake story which he spread in the public.

He explained,"l an going to sue Bryt FM  media house" that has carried the report to provide source and ordered the two newspapers," The Chronicle n
and The Finder to write a rejoinder to retract the false news or meet him in the court."

Against this background, the DCE called on media to be circumspect in its reportage and be guided by the code of ethics of their profession to ensure a balance reportage and minimise sensationalism and report accurately.

Pix: District Chief Executive for Birim North Assembly, Mr Raymond Nana Damptey