The Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Nabdam Constituency, James Tenga, has dismissed claims that political influence played a role in the appointment of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, insisting that the decision was guided by the constituency’s zoning arrangement and the need for fair representation.
Speaking on A1 Radio during a discussion on governance reforms, including government plans to make Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) electable, Mr. Tenga explained that although he had expressed interest in the DCE position, he was not selected because of a long-standing commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of leadership opportunities across the constituency.
According to him, suggestions that the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, influenced the appointment process are unfounded.
“You cannot teach a crocodile how to swim when the crocodile lives in water. The selection of the Nabdam DCE was not influenced by any politician. It reflected zonal balance in Nabdam. My MP is innocent,” he said.
Mr. Tenga noted that many people considered him a close ally of the MP because of the amount of time they spent working together, leading some to assume he would have been the obvious choice if political influence had played a role in the appointment.
“Everybody called me the darling boy of the MP. I was always with him. If it was about influence, then I should have been the chosen one,” he stated.
He explained that leaders from the Sakote enclave made a strong case for the DCE position, arguing that since the days of the former Talensi-Nabdam Constituency, and even after the creation of the Nabdam District, their traditional area had never produced a DCE.
Mr. Tenga said the argument was reasonable and deserved support in the interest of fairness, unity and inclusiveness.
He maintained that the eventual appointment reflected the constituency’s commitment to political and administrative balance rather than the preference of any individual political figure.
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