Lesotho Wire

The Ketu South Municipal Assembly has failed to elect a Presiding Member (PM) after three voting attempts.

The aspirants, Mr Wilfred Dakunya and Mr Moses Xorve Kordorwu, Assembly members for Akame and Lotakor Electoral Areas respectively could not secure the two-thirds majority votes required to become a winner.

Out of the total 58 ballots cast on Wednesday, February 21, Mr Dakunya polled 22 while Mr Kordorwu polled 30 with six ballots recorded as rejected while a rerun produced similar result but with five rejected ballots.

The Assembly during its ninth inaugural meeting Monday, February 12 adjourned the PM election after just one failed voting attempt which result was 26 votes for Mr Dakunya, 27 for Mr Kordorwu and five rejected votes.

The Assembly members while calling for adjournment, argued that they were tired and that a rerun on the day might not produce a different result, thus, the need to give the candidates enough time for consultation to avoid a repeat of the experience from the very recent PM
election which ran into several voting attempts.

The Municipal Assembly only succeeded in electing a PM in April 2022 after six consecutive attempts since its then PM, Mr Wisdom Samuel Doe Haligah (Petit), a government appointee, had his appointment revoked on October 07, 2021.

Mr Kofi Sakyi Boampong, the Municipal Electoral Commission (EC) Officer in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the two aspirants had exhausted their right to contest and so, fresh nominations would open.

He said with the exhaustion of the first search process, the next meeting of the Assembly to elect its PM was not time-bound assuring that the EC would be ready to help with the process when notified.

Mr Dakunya, one of the contestants expressed his disappointment to GNA saying, the election outcome was because of entrenched political positions and hoped the search for a PM for the ninth Assembly would not prolong.

The Assembly though non-partisan, has its members wear political colours outside with the two failed PM as
pirants, Mr Dakunya and Mr Kordorwu believed to be members of the ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress, respectively.

GNA

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By Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA

Denu (VR), Feb 22, GNA- The Ketu South Municipal Assembly has failed to elect a Presiding Member (PM) after three voting attempts.

The aspirants, Mr Wilfred Dakunya and Mr Moses Xorve Kordorwu, Assembly members for Akame and Lotakor Electoral Areas respectively could not secure the two-thirds majority votes required to become a winner.

Out of the total 58 ballots cast on Wednesday, February 21, Mr Dakunya polled 22 while Mr Kordorwu polled 30 with six ballots recorded as rejected while a rerun produced similar result but with five rejected ballots.

The Assembly during its ninth inaugural meeting Monday, February 12 adjourned the PM election after just one failed voting attempt which result was 26 votes for Mr Dakunya, 27 for Mr Kordorwu and five rejected votes.

The Assembly members while calling for adjournment, argued t
hat they were tired and that a rerun on the day might not produce a different result, thus, the need to give the candidates enough time for consultation to avoid a repeat of the experience from the very recent PM election which ran into several voting attempts.

The Municipal Assembly only succeeded in electing a PM in April 2022 after six consecutive attempts since its then PM, Mr Wisdom Samuel Doe Haligah (Petit), a government appointee, had his appointment revoked on October 07, 2021.

Mr Kofi Sakyi Boampong, the Municipal Electoral Commission (EC) Officer in an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the two aspirants had exhausted their right to contest and so, fresh nominations would open.

He said with the exhaustion of the first search process, the next meeting of the Assembly to elect its PM was not time-bound assuring that the EC would be ready to help with the process when notified.

Mr Dakunya, one of the contestants expressed his disappointment to GNA saying, the election outcome was because
of entrenched political positions and hoped the search for a PM for the ninth Assembly would not prolong.

The Assembly though non-partisan, has its members wear political colours outside with the two failed PM aspirants, Mr Dakunya and Mr Kordorwu believed to be members of the ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress, respectively.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Assembly members at the Yendi Municipal Assembly have for the second time failed to elect a Presiding Member.

Failing for the second time means the two candidates, Mutaro Mohammed and Abdul Hussein Karim, who polled 15 and 28 votes respectively have thus been disqualified according to the constitution.

New candidates would have to file for the position in the next 10 days.

The winner, needed 30 out of the 43 votes to gain two-thirds majority, unfortunately both of them failed after two rounds of voting.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Assembly Members of Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region have failed to elect their Presiding Member (PM) for the ninth assembly.

The candidates, Mr Prosper Agbeti and Mr Joseph Kwofie, assembly members of Nsuaem Zongo and Tarkwa Banso Electoral Areas, failed to secure the constitutional two-thirds votes required.

Out of thirty elected assembly members one was absent, thirteen government appointees and the Municipal Chief Executive, making 43 members, voted.

At the end of the first round, Mr Kwofie polled 27 votes and Mr Agbeti, polled 15 votes, with one rejected ballot.

For the second round, Mr Kwofie polled 28 votes, while Mr Agbeti, polled 14 votes and one rejected ballot.

The Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr Ekow Essien supervised the peaceful election. In ten days, the assembly members would be expected to vote again to elect a PM.

Mr Benjamin Kessie, MCE who was disappointed, in his brief remarks, said the role of the PM was crucial in ensuring effective local governance and decisio
n-making within their assembly.

‘The assembly has been inaugurated and the executive functions of the assembly are operating, so if anyone from our communities needs support and they come to the assembly we will do the needful.

The people must not suffer because you are not prepared to elect a PM, but we need you together to serve the people who sent you here. It is incumbent on you to let the system function for your own good, especially the new assembly members’ he indicated.

Mr Kessie appealed to the assembly members to prioritise the interest of the Municipality, while demonstrating their commitment to serve the good people of Tarkwa Nsuaem with dedication and diligence, adding ‘Our predecessors have laboured to bring us this far, it should not be our turn to take us back, so we are going forward’.

‘l trust that the next time we meet the election will be one of the smoothness of all that we have had so that we scale up the process and then continue to deliver on our core mandate,’ said the MCE

The Mu
nicipal Coordinating Director, Mr Boffour Ahmed Haruna explained ‘There are documents we need to endorse and send to Accra that are going to be counted as far as our assessments are concerned, for now, they will still be on hold.’

‘At the end of 2024 when assessment is conducted, and you see us lacking behind l believe you will understand and not blame any technocrats’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will confirm the changes to the Majority Caucus Leadership in Parliament on Friday, February 23.

A Ghana News Agency source said:

‘It will be confirmed tomorrow by the National Council. But that is the lineup. Locked…most unlikely to change.’

Following the resignation of Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Efutu, is said to be named the new Majority Leader.

Madam Patricia Appiagyei, the MP for Asokwa, would be the new Deputy Majority Leader, while Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, would remain the Chief Whip.

‘…Habib Iddrisu, MP for Tolon, has been appointed as the First Deputy Majority Whip, with Mr Alex Tettey Djonobuah, MP for Sefwi Akontombra named the Second Deputy Whip,’ the source said.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Ghana’s longest-serving lawmaker, formally announced his resignation during a crunch meeti
ng between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Majority Caucus on Wednesday at the Jubilee House.

In his reaction to the former Majority Leader’s resignation, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai, said he was disappointed at the Majority Leader’s decision to resign.

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Thursday, he said: ‘I am personally disappointed that Kyei decided to stand down, he has been a fantastic leader, and he is an extremely hardworking person and I would have wished that he stayed on to the end.’

When asked if the Majority Leader was forced to resign, Mr Osei-Owusu said he had no basis to make such conclusions.

‘I don’t have any such information, I have no basis for that conclusion.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Assembly Members for the Awutu Senya West District have rejected the President’s nominee, Mr Moses Arhinful Acquah, as the District Chief Executive (DCE).

Out of the 35 total votes cast, he secured 19 yes votes, 15 no votes with one spoilt ballot.

Per the local governance act, the nominee was expected to secure 24 votes representing two- thirds of the total votes cast and that a re-election had been scheduled to take place in 10 days.

Central Regional Minister, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, speaking after the exercise said the ultimate responsibility of the Assembly was to ensure the district developed and that required that committees and sub-committees were formed to commence the developmental agenda of the communities.

She therefore urged the members to bury their differences and consider the development of the Assembly, paramount.

In an interview with Mr Richard Ghartey, Presiding Member of the District Assembly, he expressed disappointment in the results of the elections and reiterated calls to make t
he progress of the area top on the agenda.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu, says he intends to address issues surrounding his resignation as the Majority Leader by Friday.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stepped down from his position on Wednesday, February 21, following discussions between leaders of the majority caucus and the national leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

His resignation came days after speculations of reshuffle in the leadership of the majority caucus, which created some seemingly minor tensions between the parliamentary group and the national leadership.

On Thursday, February 22, when the former Majority Leader appeared in Parliament for the first time after his resignation and unlike him, he took the seat immediately behind the front roll, reserved for the Majority Leadership.

At that point he began to engage with Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapim South, for a bout five minutes, spoke with Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, First Deputy Speaker and MP for Bekwai, close to three minutes, then moved to
the front roll, picked his file, and left the Chamber.

Although the NPP and the Majority Caucus are yet to formally announce the new leadership in Parliament, speculations are rife that Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Majority Leader, would be named the new Majority Leader.

Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip, would be the Deputy Majority Leader.

The move would enable Habib Iddrisu, the First Deputy Chief Whip, to assume the position of Majority Chief Whip, while there is the possibility of appointing either Patricia Appiagyei or Freda Prempeh as the new First Deputy Majority Chief Whip.

This follows the nomination of Lydia Seyram Alhassan as the Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation.

Source: Ghana News Agency