More MMDCE nominees receive nod …few rejected
The nominees for Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) continue to receive confirmation from assembly members across the country, even though few did not receive the required votes to get the nod.
In Accra, LAWRENCE VOMAFA- AKPALU reports from Abokobi that Ms Elizabeth Kaakie Mann was on Friday confirmed as the Ga East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). All 15 assembly members voted yes giving her a 100 per cent endorsement.
The peaceful and orderly manner of the voting process gave the security personnel at the Presbyterian women’s Training Centre little to worry about.
Ms Mann in her acceptance speech expressed her gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve her people, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the assembly members for the confidence reposed in her that culminated in the massive endorsement.
She pledged to champion an aggressive developmental agenda and urged the assembly members to accord her that same support so that collectively they could achieve targeted goals towards promoting and improving the socio-economic status of the people.
Mr Parker France on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Minister admonished Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to operate an open-door policy and involve the assembly members in the administration of their communities.
According to him, the assembly’s work was not partisan as such development projects must be distributed evenly to prevent any acrimony among the people.
“You were nominated by the President and massively endorsed by the kingmakers who are the assembly members. The onus now lies on you to reciprocate that gesture by working closely with them in order to meet the aspirations of residents”, he said
Mr France commended the assembly members for the maturity exhibited during the voting process and assured that the Regional Minister would surely meet them next week to express his personal appreciation for the peaceful conduct of the elections, which he said was worth emulating by other assemblies.
At the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly, NORMAN COOPER reports that, Madam Mariama Karley Amui, was on Wednesday, October 6, confirmed the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly (AbCMA) in the Greater Accra Region with an overwhelming 100 percent YES vote by the 11 Assembly members.
Madam Amui is going for a second term as the MCE for the AbCMA after she was re-nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The brief confirmation ceremony which was greeted with celebration of victory saw in attendance the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey , General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, Constituency Chairman, Frank Debrah and the Director of Operations at the Office of the President, Lord Oblitey Commey and the former Member of Parliament (MP) , Ebenezer Nartey, as well as chiefs and opinion leaders.
Elated by the overwhelming endorsement, Madam Amui thanked President for giving her another opportunity to serve the people which she said was evidenced by the 100 percent vote by the Assembly Members.
Additionally, the MCE expressed gratitude to all those involved in her appointment and saying all that she wants the second term is for all those concerned to get involved in making this possible tenure a memorable one.
“The endorsement is not much of a surprise to many especially after several calls from chiefs and opinion leaders as well as party executives most importantly my assembly members who at a press conference earlier, had called on the President to reappoint their “mother”.
Madam Amui described the citizenry as a major stakeholder in the development of the municipality; “such development can only be materialised if we contribute our quota by honouring our tax obligations which was the key to nation’s development.
The AbCMA Chief Executive political ambition dated back from being twice the women organizer for Ablekuma Central and three times NPP Women organiser for Greater Accra Region.
At the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly, in Accra, LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU reports that there was wild jubilation among women groups and assembly members when Hajia Salma Sani Mohammed Adams Kuta, was retained in a unanimous vote by the 17 assembly members to become the MCE.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey who could not hide his joy also took to the dance floor to celebrate the victory.
He praised the assembly members for smooth voting process which he said exhibit the family re-union of the “ancient days.”
“The 100 per cent endorsement clearly demonstrates your commitment to collaborate for the effective implementation of planned programmes and policies of the area,” he added.
The chief of the Zabrama Community, Chief Seidu Louise appealed to the Regional Minister to help rehabilitate deplorable roads in the municipality.
Hajia Kuta in her acceptance speech, pledged to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in her.
She expressed her gratitude to the President for re-nominating her, the Vice President and Wife for their immense support, advise and contribution during her tenure and the Greater Accra Regional Minister whose resilience and commitment towards making “Accra Work Again” agenda has put most MMDAs, on their toes.
Hajia Kuta called members to support her to construct a senior high School for the youth to benefit from the free SHS programme.
FROM the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, KINGSLEY E.HOPE reports that 39 out of the 43 confirmed MMDCE in the Ashanti Region, were yesterday sworn into office for a four-year term.
Performing the swearing in amid pomp and pageantry, the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei- Osei-Mensah, said there was nothing like honeymoon after today’s ceremony and tasked them to work harder for the benefit of Ghana.
He told them they would need the support of all key stakeholders to successfully deliver on their mandate, taking into consideration the varied challenges that would need to be addressed in the interest of the people.
The Regional Minister asked MDCE to gird up their loins to address the many challenges that confront them such as security issues,low local economic development,low internal revenue generation, building in unauthorized areas, building in road reservations, Illegal mining in some areas, and sanitation.
Mr.Osei-Mensah said he was confident and had trust in the capabilities and competence of each one of them that they would deliver.
“It is therefore, my expectation that you will stay focused and committed to deepening the gains made in the implementation of the numerous social-interventions, policies and programmes introduced by government to bring about a remarkable improvement in the standards of living of Ghanaians, as well as the realization of the government’s transformational agenda”, he emphasized.
He said they could successfully execute their mandate “if you pay the needed attention to the broader functions of the Assemblies as stipulated under section 12 and 13 of the Local Governance Act, 2016, Act 936 and other relevant legislation and legal Instruments of the Local Government System”.
The Regional Minister charged them to demonstrate high level of humility and respect for all persons irrespective of status, religion, sex and ethnicity, and stressed, “Kindly eschew corrupt practices and ensure transparency in all that you do”.
He gave the assurance that the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development would put together a comprehensive orientation programme for them to enable them take off on the right footing.
Mr Alex Frimpong, Juaso MCE, on behalf of the colleagues, thanked the President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity and promised that they would live up to expectation.
Interestingly, large numbers of the people present at the event failed to adhere to COVID 19 protocols of wearing nose of face masks.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) nominee for New Juaben North Municipal Assembly, Madam Comfort Asare has been rejected by assembly members Friday.
According to our Eastern Regional correspondent in Koforidua, AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, this was after Madam Asare failed to poll two-thirds majority at an election to confirm her as MCE.
She polled 15 “Yes” votes out of a total of 29 valid votes cast by Assembly members, a situation which calls for a second round voting within the next 10 days.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Acheampong ,disappointed at the turn of event however, thanked the assembly members for coming out in their numbers to vote, adding it showed how “we have developed democratically.”
He said the pattern of votes depicted their thoughts but stated that the most important thing to think about was the development of the country.
“I am however pleading that we consider the development of our assembly and vote for her when the second opportunity presents itself,” he said.
YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, reports from Walewalein the North East Region that members of West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly have confirmed MrIssahaku ArimeyawSomo Lucky Basintale as the MCE for assembly with 45 votes.
The MCE who was renominated stated that the overwhelmed endorsement from the assembly members was a clear demonstration of respect and trust they have him.
He pledged to reciprocate the gesture done him as assured them of preparedness to work hard to achieve the needed development for the people of the municipality.
“I will continue to bring the needed development to the people of the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly.
Mr Somo urged the assembly members to continue to show zeal and commitment towards the achieve development of the area.
He commended the president for the opportunity given to serve his people and promised never to disappoint him
In a related development, President’s nominee for the position of Sagnarigu municipality, Mohammed Yakubu Ahmed has also been confirmed as Municipal Chief Executive MCE.
He secured all the 30 votes valid cast represented 100 per cent endorsement from the assembly members.
Mr Ahmed until his appointment was the ruling New Patriotic Party ( NPP) Sangnarigu constituency research office.
From the Upper East Region, Samuel Akapule reports that 13 Municipal and District Assemblies out of the 15 in the Upper East Region, have successfully confirmed the President’s nominees for the position of the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs).
Three of the Assemblies have rejected their nominees.
The MDCEs confirmed include, Mr Rex Asanga, Bolgatanga Municipal, Mr David Akologo Amoah, Bolgatanga East, Mr Amadu Hamza, Bawku Municipal, TahiruIssahaku Ahmed, Bawku West, Mr Joseph Adongo, Kassena-Nankana Municipal and Mr Thomas Pearson Doanab, Talensi.
The rest are Mr Zubeiru Abdulai, Pusiga, Mr Gerard Atoagye, Kassena-Nankana West, Mr Daniel Kwame Gariba, Builsa South, Ms Vida Naab Akantagriwen, Builsa Municipal, Mrs Agnes Anamoo, Nabdam and Ms Rita Atanga, Bongo District.
All the three women namely, Ms Vida , Mrs Agnes Anamoo, Ms Rita Atanga, for Builsa Municipal, Nabdam and Bongo Districts respectively who were nominated to the region by the President were successfully approved .
However the Nabdam Assembly by popular acclamation in a second election confirmed the President’s nominee.
Meanwhile Mr Osman Musah, Mr Ayinga Abagre Yakubu and Mr Paul Azumah Abugri, nominees for Garu, Binduri and Tempane Districts failed to garner the required two-third majority to be confirmed as DCEs for their respective areas.
Although in the case of the nominees for Garu and Binduri, a second election would be conducted for them within 10 days of the first election as they secured more than 50 percent in the first election.
Per the Local Government Act of 2016, Act 936a nominee who fails to secure a two-third majority of the Assembly Members present and voting cannot be confirmed as DCE elect but qualifies for a second election unless the nominee is withdrawn by the President on reasonable grounds.
But in the case of the nominee for Tempane who had less than 50 percent (44 percent), the President Akufo-Addo is yet to make a determination as the Act disqualifies him from a second election unless the President re-nominates him
