By King Amoah
Atiwa East District in the Eastern Region is teetering on the brink of public unrest as chorus of poputclar activists of traditional chiefs and opinion leaders intensifies their demand for the immediate removal of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Ernest Ntim.
The persistent allegations of his active xtct tc5ct t illegal mining activities commonly known as galamsey have pushed residents to the precipice, culminating in a stern warning for presidential intervention before they resort to taking matters into their own hands.
For months the people of Atiwa East have been vocal in their calls for the dismissal of the DCE Ernest Ntim.
However these pleas have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
This continued inaction has now galvanized residents who are issuing a dire ultimatum, either the President intervenes to remove the alleged stubborn and recalcitrant DCE or they will take matters into their own hands and effect his removal themselves.
The motivations behind this forceful stance are multifaceted.
Primarily the community seeks to restore sanity within the district and protect its environmental integrity.
Furthermore they expressed a strong desire to safeguard the image of the governing party arguing that retaining an individual accused of such egregious conduct as a political representative is detrimental.
Crucially they aim to prevent the President from being associated with a figure who in their view undermines his administration’s efforts and directives.
The charges leveled against DCE Ernest Ntim are extensive and deeply concerning.
Beyond his alleged active participation in galamsey which has reportedly led to significant environmental degradation and the destruction of farmlands, residents accuse him of rudeness, arrogance, and pride.
The destruction of agricultural land has been particularly galling with allegations that Ntim has failed to provide any form of compensation to the affected residents.
This situation stands in stark contrast to the President’s declared policies. It is widely known that President John Dramani Mahama has actively sought to discourage illegal mining with clear directives issued to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MCEs and DCEs) to play their roles in combating this menace.
According to the aggrieved residents, DCE Ernest Ntim has demonstrably treated these presidential directives with contempt.
The residents point to a disturbing precedent: in 2015 the Koforua High Court found DCE Ernest Ntim guilty of contempt and sentenced him to an 8 day jail term alongside a hefty fine of GHC120,000 specifically for his involvement in galamsey activities.
This past legal entanglement they said, confirms the severity of his alleged transgressions and the lack of accountability.
In an era of digital activism, a growing number of youth in the district are seizing social media channels to amplify their grievances.
These online campaigns aim to draw national attention to Ntim’s conduct, hoping to spur the government into decisive action.
The message is clear: if immediate action is not taken to remove the DCE the community feels they are left with no other recourse but to resort to forceful measures.
The situation in Atiwa East is a ticking time bomb. With accusations of environmental destruction, disregard for presidential directives, and a history of legal repercussions for galamsey related offenses, that the pressure on the government to act is immense.
The eyes of the nation, and particularly those of the President, are now firmly fixed on Atiwa East. The question remains: will the government heed the cries of its people and remove DCE Ernest Ntim, or will the situation escalate into a full blown crisis?
Stay tuned for further developments on this unfolding story.Atiwa
