A storm is quietly brewing within the Upper West Region’s political corridors as a power struggle between National Democratic Congress (NDC) stalwart Dr. Rashid Pelpuo and the party’s Regional Chairman erupts over a high-stakes government appointment — the position of Acting Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
At the heart of the confusion are two separate appointment letters from NADMO’s headquarters, both signed by the Director-General, Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph B. Kuyon, and both appointing different individuals to the same role in the Upper West Region.
Pelpuo’s Pick: Emmanuel Maxwell Niber
The first letter, dated March 28, 2025, appoints Emmanuel Maxwell Niber as the Acting Regional Director for Upper West, effective April 1, 2025.
The letter notes a promotion for Niber from Deputy Chief Disaster Control Officer (DCDCO) to Chief Disaster Control Officer (CDCO).
The letter explicitly states that the new rank comes with an annual salary of GH₵74,871.00, and requests that Niber submit necessary documentation to facilitate the upgrade of his salary.
This appointment is widely believed to have been lobbied for by Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central and a key figure within the NDC in the region.
NDC Regional Chairman’s Candidate: Osman Abdul-Latif Sinsew
Just weeks later, a second letter from NADMO, also signed by Dr. Kuyon, surfaced.
This letter, dated April 20, 2025, also announces the appointment of a different individual —Osman Abdul-Latif Sinsew — as Acting Regional Director for the Upper West Region.
The letter gives him until May 5 to accept the appointment and undergo a medical examination, warning that the offer will be withdrawn if NADMO receives no response.
Political insiders have linked Sinsew’s nomination to the NDC’s Upper West Regional Chairman, setting the stage for an internal turf war over control of the influential regional post.
The Bigger Picture
The dueling appointments highlight a deepening rift within the NDC’s regional leadership as powerful figures compete to plant their loyalists in key government agencies.
The role of NADMO Regional Director is not only administratively critical — especially in a region prone to floods and other natural disasters — but also politically strategic, often serving as a channel for resources and influence.
Both appointees now hold letters that appear equally legitimate, signed by the same Director-General, raising pressing questions:
Which appointment holds precedence? And how did two separate names get approved for the same role?
Attempts to get clarification from NADMO’s national office have so far yielded no official explanation.
As the May 5 deadline looms for Osman Sinsew to accept or forfeit his offer, political watchers say the controversy risks further straining party unity ahead of the 2024 elections.
Meanwhile, party loyalists in the Upper West are split, with some backing Pelpuo’s camp and others standing with the Regional Chairman.
