Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly fails to elect a Presiding Member

Bolgatanga, Oct. 31, GNA - Members of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly on Monday failed to elect a Presiding Member because none of the two contestants gained two-thirds of the votes cast as required by law.

The contestants were, Mr Joseph Amiyure, Assemblyman for Dorongo and Mr Joseph Agongo, Assemblyman for Kumbusgu. During the first voting Mr Amiyure had 22 votes representing 56.4 per cent as against 17 votes by Mr Agongo representing 43.5 per cent. The second round of voting was nullified because it was detected that there was an additional vote making it 40 votes instead of 39 votes to be cast.

The pattern of the first round voting was repeated during the third round of voting with Mr Amiyure receiving 22 votes and Mr Agongo having 17 votes.

The Assembly therefore, decided to postpone the election to Wednesday, November 8.

Before the election, Mr Isaac Nsoh Amoah, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive introduced the 38 assembly members including two people with disabilities to the audience and were sworn in by Mr Justice Berkon Aning, a Bolgatanga High Court Judge. Twenty-six out of the 38 members elected while the Government appointed 12 members.

Mr Amoah commended the people in the region and the Electoral Commission for a peaceful election during the September 26 District Level Elections and urged them to continue to work in unity for the development of the area.

"We have demonstrated that, as a united people in the region we are capable of handling our own affairs by taking opportunities and managing our resources efficiently and effectively," Mr Amoah added. President John Agyekum Kufour in an address read on his behalf, asked the Assembly members to work assiduously towards the accelerated development of the country.