Asante-Akim North fails to elect PM

Konongo (Ash), Nov. 1, GNA - Efforts by the Asante-Akim North District Assembly at Konongo to elect Presiding Member following the inauguration of the new assembly on Monday has yielded no result.

The assembly which convened a meeting immediately after its inauguration to elect a presiding member failed in its attempt after three rounds of voting, necessitating a reschedule of the meeting for the next day.

The situation was, however, no different the following day, even after the withdrawal of one of the contestants, Mr Antwi Boasiako which set the stage for a straight fight between Lydia Agyeman and Thomas Osei Bonsu.

Another two rounds of voting could still not produce a winner as both contestants failed to secure 41 votes, being two-thirds of the 61-member assembly.

With the deadlock still not broken, the meeting was adjourned sine die pending the filing of fresh nominations. The situation has given room to speculations that Mr George Kyei-Baffour, a former presiding member is likely to file his nomination despite agitations by a cross-section of the public against his contesting the election.

In a related development, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng had urged the assembly to ensure a presiding members would be elected at its next sitting.

He said the delay in electing a presiding member would not only cripple the development of the district but also drain the resources of the assembly.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng, who was on a working visit to Konongo witnessed the election on the second day.

He expressed satisfaction about the election and called on the assembly members to reach a consensus as soon as possible to facilitate smooth running of the assembly.