Odupong chiefs demand removal of Awutu Senya East MCE over poor performance

Traditional leaders of Awutu Odupong are demanding the removal of the Awutu Senya East MCE, Seth Sabah Serwonoo-Banini, accusing him of poor leadership and bad planning in Kasoa.

Their main concern is the construction of permanent stores on land they say was earmarked for future road expansion within the Kasoa Central Business District.

The chiefs also accuse the MCE of disrespecting traditional authority and say his performance falls far below that of his counterpart in Awutu Senya West. They pointed to a recent Central Region MMDAs performance report that ranked Awutu Senya East among the worst-performing assemblies.

Speaking at the Odupong Awubia Festival, the customary custodian of Odupong, Nai Kwabena Atopi, said the chiefs can no longer work with the MCE and called on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene.

“Strangers are struggling with us over our own property. I want the government’s representatives to know that what they are doing will land them in trouble. They know that the commercial value of land in Kasoa has increased so they want to grab some. Now that they are expanding the road from Breku and Cape Coast. How can we expand the road now that they have built stores here?

“I am calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene. As the MCE, you shouldn’t meddle in chieftaincy matters. You can’t substitute our destiny in four years. You can’t build on land reserved for a road. The Kasoa assembly performed poorly according to the Local Government Ministry. So we want to inform the president that his representative is not performing. Chiefs don’t do politics, but we can share our observation. The MCE must be removed,” he said.

The traditional leaders also cautioned private developers to acquire land only through the customary custodians to avoid disputes.