President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has recently dismissed a total of twenty-four district chief executives, as per a letter dated Friday, February 2, 2024. The revocation of their appointments, cited under Article 243 (3) (b) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20 (3) (b) of the Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936), was announced through a letter signed by President Akufo-Addo. The reasons for the dismissals were not explicitly mentioned in the letter; however, speculations within political circles suggest that some of the ousted executives may have attempted to contest or openly supported candidates during the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primaries.
Before the primaries, the NPP had issued directives prohibiting metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives from challenging incumbent members of Parliament or openly endorsing candidates. Despite this, some dismissed DCEs reportedly participated in the parliamentary primaries, possibly leading to their removal from office.
The list of dismissed DCEs includes individuals from areas where the NPP does not currently hold parliamentary seats. On Saturday, February 3, 2024, President Akufo-Addo also announced new nominees to fill the vacant positions created by the dismissals.
The dismissal of the DCEs underscores the political dynamics and expectations within the NPP and the broader political landscape of Ghana. It reflects the importance of adhering to party directives and the consequences of deviating from established norms and guidelines.
Below is the list of dismissed DCEs and the new nominees appointed to fill the vacancies:
Dismissed DCEs:
- MARTINA APPIAH NYANTAKYI – AHAFO ANO NORTH
- NII LARTEH OLLENU – AMANSIE WEST
- DANIEL OWUREDU – NKORANZA SOUTH
- ALHAJI ABDULAI ADAMS – PRU EAST
- GMASOMBE JEROME KOFI GYIMAH – SENE EAST
- JOSEPH AIDOO – AWUTU SENYA WEST
- SAMUEL KWAME AGYEKUM – ASUOGYAMAN
- SETH ASANTE – ATIWA WEST
- COMFORT ASANTE – NEW JUABEN NORTH
- ISAAC KWADZO BUABENG – NSAWAM-ADOAGYIRI
- DANIEL ALEXANDER NII-NOI ADUMUA – ADENTAN
- MOHAMMED BASHIRU KAMARA – GA CENTRAL
- ELIZABETH KAAKIE MANN – GA EAST
- PATRICK KWESI BRAKO KUMOR – WEIJA GBAWE
- RASHIDA MAHAMA – EAST MAMPRUSI
- EMMANUEL JALULAH KAJAL – KRACHI WEST
- LENWAH BRIGHT KWAME – NKWANTA SOUTH
- LOSINA BARIKISU – SAWLA – TUNA-KALBA
- DAVID AKOLOGO AMOAH – BOLGA EAST
- TAHIRU ISSAHAKU AHMED – BAWKU WEST
- AYISHA BATONG HOR – SISSALA WEST
- SETH KWASI AGBI – SOUTH TONGU
- PATRICK HOCKSON AMPONTENG – AMENFI CENTRAL
- DORCAS ELIZABETH AMOAH – NZEMA
New Nominees:
- PRINCE DORMAA AMOAH – AHAFO ANO NORTH
- OSCAR ASARE ANDOH – AMANSIE WEST
- DR. AMOATENG AUGUSTINE KWASI – NKORANZA SOUTH
- MOHAMMED HARUNA – PRU EAST
- SAMSON GBOLU – SENE EAST
- MOSES ARHINFUL ACQUAH – AWUTU SENYA WEST
- NANA KWEKU ABBAN – TWIFO HEMAN LOWER DENKYIRA
- MAVIS OPOKUA AKONNOR – ASUOGYAMAN
- PADDY AMPONSAH DOUGLAS – ATIWA WEST
- PROF. EDWARD ASANTE ANTWI – NEW JUABEN SOUTH
- OWUSU ARTHUR EMMANUEL – NSAWAM ADOAGYIRI
- EBENEZER DOKU – ADENTAN
- AMBROSE TSEGAH – GA CENTRAL
- DEBORAH AMPOFO – GA EAST
- MICHAEL DANQUAH – WEIJA GBAWE
- ISSAH CHIMSI ABDULAI – EAST MAMPRUSI
- BULATOR KWAKU PATRICK – KRACHI WEST
- FELIX OWUSU GYIMAH – NKWANTA SOUTH
- JACOB K. DUMAKAWE – SAWLA-TUNA-KALBA
- AGANA ALBERT AKUGRE – BOLGA EAST
- ANANIA DANIEL ATAMPUBA – BAWKU WEST
- MAHAMUD FORKAH – SISSALA WEST
- ZUH WALTER WOGBEMASE – ADAKLU
- INNOCENT LYNFORD KWESI TETTEH – SOUTH TONGU
- ALEX BAIDOO – AMENFI CENTRAL
- ERIC ESSIEN – NZEMA EAST