Assembly members of the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly (ACMA) have confirmed the Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Archibald Cobbina as the new Municipal Chief Executive.
Mr Cobbina was nominated by President Akufo-Addo following the resignation of the MCE, Alhaji Mohammed Ababio Quaye, due to ill health.
He secured 16 votes of all the assembly members present out of the 17 assembly members including 11 elected, five government appointees and one being absent.
The exercise was supervised by the Greater Accra Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr George Kwame Amoah, who officially confirmed him after counting the ballots.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, led the new MCE to take his oath of allegiance, office and secrecy at a ceremony in Accra on Thursday to officially welcome him to office.
He commended the assembly members for the overwhelming endorsement and urged them to work hand in hand with Mr Cobbina to bring development into the municipality.
He also entreated the new MCE to respect the opinion leaders, faith-based groups, formal sectors, and all stakeholders in the discharge of his duties.
Mr Quartey who is also a Member of Parliament for the area promised to collaborate with the new MCE to bring speed into the municipality.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Cobbina expressed gratitude to the President for nominating him and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, as well as the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him to serve the municipality.
He promised to work with all residents to ensure that development projects were brought to the municipality.
“I wish to assure His Excellency the President, honourable members, and all residents of Ayawaso Central that I will live up to the trust that has been reposed in me,” he said.
“Being someone who has lived most of his youthful life within the borders of this municipality and served as an elected assembly member for the Kokomlemle Electoral Area for two consecutive terms, I clearly understand the concerns of Hon. Members and the residents of their various electoral areas, and I pledge to carry those concerns on board in the exercise of my duties as the Municipal Chief Executive,” he added.
Mr Cobbina assured of exploring innovative strategies to increase the assembly’s revenue streams while ensuring fairness and accountability in the financial management.
He also committed to enhancing education, health, sanitation, agriculture among other developmental projects to build strong, resilient, and cohesive environment.
Mr Cobbina called for teamwork among the assembly members and the residents to assist him confront the challenges faced by the assembly to enable the municipality enhance holistically in its developmental projects.
The outgone MCE, Alhaji Quaye, pledged his support and commitment to help the MCE achieve his mandate and continue the good works he (Alhaji Quaye) left behind.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
