Fifty-five pick forms for district elections in Akwapim...

Fifty-five persons have picked forms from the Office of the Electoral Commission to contest various positions in next year’s local government elections, in the Akwapim South District and the Nsawam/ Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly District.

They would be vying to become assembly members or Unit Committee Members.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Samuel Damson, Presiding Member of Akwapim South District Assembly and Assembly Member for Obodan Electoral Area, said he would contest the election again to enable him to continue facilitating the implementation of development projects in his area.

He mentioned some of the projects he championed for execution as the construction of a Junior High School (JHS) block at Obodan, the construction of a police quarters for the Obodan, a market and a durbar ground.

When he elected again, Mr. Damson said, he would focus on helping to create job opportunities for the youth in the area to prevent them from travelling to the cities to look for non-existent jobs.

He said when the youth find themselves jobless in the cities they get frustrated and often engaged in social vices, which destroys the society.

Mr. Jackson Mensa, who intends to contest the position of assemblyman for Pakro Adjuenase Prem, said when elected, he would construct a market for the people with his personal resources.

He would also lobby for the provision of electricity, toilet facilities, and water in the area.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has fixed Tuesday, March 3, 2015 for the conduct of the District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections throughout the country, except the Lower Manya Krobo District.

Consequently, nominations for the District Assembly Elections would be taken on Saturday, December 20, 2014 and Sunday, December 21, 2014.

Nominations for the Unit Committee Elections would be taken on Monday December 22, 2014 and Tuesday, December 23, 2014, a statement signed by Mr. Amadu Sulley EC Deputy Chairman in Charge of Operations, has said.

According to the statement, nominations would be taken from 0800 hours to 1200 noon and 1300 hours to 1700 hours each day.

“A person can contest either the District Assembly Election or the Unit Committee Election but not both elections,” the statement said.

The EC explained that prospective candidates should pay no fee to obtain the forms or for filing to contest the elections.

According to the 1994 District Assembly Elections Act 473, "elections to a district assembly shall be held every four years, except that the elections shall be held at least six months away from parliamentary elections".

A candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or any lower local government unit shall present himself to the electorate as an individual and shall not use any symbol associated with any political party.

A political party shall not endorse, sponsor, and offer a platform to or in any way campaign for or against a candidate seeking election to a District Assembly or any lower local government unit.