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Regional News of Wednesday, 13 October 2004

Source: GNA

Berekum Assembly fails to elect Presiding Member

Berekum (B/A), Oct 13, GNA - The Berekum District Assembly in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Tuesday failed to elect a Presiding Member at a general meeting held at Berekum. All the three candidates nominated could not get two-thirds of the 48 votes cast by the Assembly members after two rounds of voting.

Mr Kwadwo Agyenim-Boateng, a retired public servant and government appointee who was nominated as the only candidate in the first round of voting, got 20 votes and was dropped from the race. In the second round of voting Mr. Michael Kyere, Assembly member of Biadain Electoral Area and Nana Osei Antwi, a Science Tutor of Berekum Secondary School (BESS) who is also government appointee got four and 26 votes respectively whilst 18 of the ballot papers were rejected. Attempts by the Berekum District Electoral Commission to get another set of people to nominate candidates to stand with Mr. Antwi proved futile and the election was postponed to enable the Assembly to fix another date within 14 days in line with the Constitution.

Addressing the assembly, Captain Nkrabea Effa-Dartey (Retired), a Deputy Minster of Local Government and Rural Development, cautioned party supporters against removing posters of Presidential and parliamentary candidates in the community. He said such actions could provoke confusion among supporters and sympathizers of political parties to the extent of disturbing the nation's peace. Capt Effah-Dartey noted that the government is aware of the plans of some people to cause mayhem in the country on the day of the election adding that no "machoman" will be allowed at a polling station to intimidate voters from exercising their franchise.

He urged the Electoral Commission to act responsibly as an independent organization by giving equal opportunities to all political parties to ensure that free and fair election is conducted in the country. Mr. Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, the District Chief Executive, advised assembly members not to get involved in chieftaincy matters. 13 Oct 04