The Bolgatanga
East Assembly in the Upper East Region has for the second time failed to elect
a Presiding Member (PM) after two rounds of voting.
On Thursday, January 23, this year, the second assembly
was inaugurated with 16 elected and eight appointed assembly members, however, it
could not successful elect a new PM, hence the election was postponed.
After the first and second rounds of voting, Mr
Martin Ayimbire Akanane, the assemblyman for Zuarungu Central Electoral Area
had 10 votes in each round, while his counterpart, Mr Bismarck Akolgo, assemblyman
for Zuarungu Electoral Area had 14 votes in each round.
Though one assemblyman was absent and therefore
could not vote, none of the candidates had the two-third majority as stipulated
by the Local Government Act to be declared a winner.
Speaking to the media after the failed attempt
to elect the PM for the second time, Reverend Emmanuel Abugre Abole, the
District Chief Executive (DCE) expressed disappointment at the conduct of the assembly
members.
The DCE said with the experience of some old assembly
members gained from how the first assembly elected the previous PM, he expected
same to have been replicated to ensure a smooth running of the assembly.
Mr Abole explained that the election of a PM was
critical in the even distribution of development projects across the districts
as it paved the way for various committees to be formed and projects adopted to
fairly benefit every electoral area.
He urged the assembly members to build consensus
to enable them to elect a PM in their next attempt to accelerate the
development of the young district. The
elections were conducted by the Electoral Commission.
