The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth Organiser in the Western Region, Mr Kwabena Afriyie, has justified the decision by party members to storm and lock down the National Service Secretariat (NSS) building in protest against a recent appointment.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5, he expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of a non-native to head the regional office of the Secretariat.
According to Mr Afriyie, nothing will compel them to change their stance unless a new appointee from the Western Region is nominated.
He revealed that despite previous engagements with the NSS, their concerns have not been addressed.
“We have adequately competent individuals in the Western Region to hold such a position, so why bring someone from the Upper East Region?” he asked. “We have engaged with the NSS and negotiated with them, but they refused to listen to us. If persuasion has failed, then force must be applied. That is why we locked up the offices.”
He clarified that they are not questioning the competence of the appointed individual but emphasized that the appointee is not from the Western Region. “Our concern is that there are equally competent persons from our region who could have been appointed,” he stressed.
Mr Afriyie added, “Appointing someone from the Upper East Region to lead the office is a decision we consider disrespectful to the people of the Western Region. We are demanding an immediate reversal of the decision. If our demand is not met, we will not allow the office to operate until a native of the Western Region is appointed.”
He further claimed that in the past, several appointments have bypassed qualified individuals from the region in favor of outsiders.
“We did not complain then, but in this particular case, we will not allow ourselves to be taken for granted any longer,” he declared. “If they want the NSS office in this region to function, they must reverse the appointment.”
When asked if he was aware that their actions were against the law, he responded, “The laws were made for man, and not man for the laws. As long as we are human, there’s always a possibility we may break the law. If our demands are met, we will reopen the office.”