Frank Okpenyen
The Dwantuahene of Lower Axim Traditional area, Nana Awiafum and the entire NPP executives in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region want President Akufo-Addo to keep Frank Okpenyen as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area.
They described the MCE as hardworking, affable, a listening leader, and a blessing to the entire municipality.
They lauded the efforts of the MCE, popularly called ‘Franko’, saying he has helped to bring appreciable level of development to the municipality in the last four years and must be made to continue to do more.
Nana Awiafum, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, said the MCE has brought what he called a ‘matchless developmental agenda’ and had proven beyond all doubts that he is development-oriented leader who prioritised the welfare of the residents above all other interests.
He said under the leadership of the MCE, numerous projects have been embarked to ensure accelerated development.
He mentioned the MCE’s efforts towards the construction of the Axim Fishing Habour, the Axim Sea Defence Wall and a sports stadium which he said successive governments could not do.
He also mentioned numerous educational and health facilities, construction of roads as well as other infrastructural projects.
“Mr. President, you know me, Nana Awiafum and I want to say your representative here, Frank Okpenyen, is a man of integrity. His leadership skills have attracted an overwhelming acceptance from the residents in this municipality and we want him retained,” the chief said.
For his part, James Kenya, the Deputy Constituency Secretary of the NPP in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency, said the MCE has what he called an unparalleled credibility and deserves to be given another opportunity to serve the people.
He, therefore, rubbished assertions by detractors of the MCE that he is disrespectful so he should be removed, describing him as a true grassroots NPP activist and that his removal from office would spell doom for the party in the area.
Some polling station executives, who also spoke to DAILY GUIDE, lauded the MCE for his performance in the last four years, saying, “We want Franko to be retained for his enviable track record and how he relates with the polling executives.”
One of them, Richard Kwofie said, “Franko is hardworking MCE. Ever since he came, there has been a lot of development and there are a lot of things he is doing for us.”
Some fishermen in the area also added their voices to the call to retain the MCE.
The fishermen, including Ekow Awotwe of Apewosika in Axim, Ata Boketey and Prince Arthur, all of Axim said, “Our humble request is based on the MCE’s equitable distribution of resources, particularly premix fuel to the fishermen in the fishing communities.”
Frank Okpenyen, who is a former Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency Secretary, has been the MCE for the Nzema East Municipality in the last four years.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Axim