National Security on Alert for Violence over Akufo-Addo’s MMDCEs Announcement

The National Security establishment is edgy about an anticipated outbreak of violence around the country over President Akufo-Addo’s upcoming announcement of appointees for the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCE) positions.

The state spy agency captured its anticipation in a September 16, 2021 memo signed by the National Security Coordinator, Major General Francis Adu Amanfo (rtd).

The code-red memo was addressed to the Chairman and heads of all regional, Metropolitan Municipal and District Security Councils, but a copy was intercepted by Whatsup News.

It reads: “There are indications of possible clashes ahead of the announcement of MMDCEs in part of the country. REGSEC, MUSEC, and DISEC are hereby urged to be on high alert to pre-empt breach of peace in the respective areas.”

The memo came on the same day that Jubilee House spokesman, Eugene Arhin, announced that President Akufo-Addo has finalized a list of appointees for MMDCEs who are to serve in his second term.

According to the Director of Communications at the Presidency, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Daniel Kwaku Botwe, was to receive the list on Thursday, September 16.

 “Expect the list to be announced by the Minister very soon,” Mr. Arhin had written in a Facebook post       

In January 2021, Akufo-Addo directed all MMDCEs to remain at post until new ones were appointed. It has been nine months since he won a second term in office.

The development has been a culture shock and led to concerns with the Jubilee House giving no tangible explanation at all. 

It is however speculated that the President took his time with these appointments in order to ensure that appointees are loyalists who do not belong to an opposing camp within the governing party, particularly the camp of Trade Minister Alan Kyeremanten, who is expected to contest Vice President Bawumia for the NPP’s 2024 presidential ticket.

Apparently, the political implosion that is likely to be instigated by a pro-Bawumia MMDCEs list is what the National Security is edgy about.