Bawku Assembly session disrupted over contract awards

Bawku, Jan. 5, GNA - Pandemonium broke out on the last day of the first ordinary meeting of the 2nd session of the Bawku East Municipal Assembly last Wednesday over the award of contract for the construction of a court building.

The confusion came as a result of the inability of the Assembly's tender board to choose between two local contractors within the area, who put in bids for the same project.

Whilst the assembly secretariat was in favour of Buma Construction Company, many of the assembly members were in favour of Bolnaba Construction Company, whom they claimed has finished with work on the new building for the assembly as compared to Buma whom they said has a number of uncompleted projects.

Tempers rose when a member, Mahama Ayariga reprimanded the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD) Mr. David Bakari for going to the extent of publicly revealing members who voted on the issue during the tender board's meeting.

In the MCD's attempt to react to Mr Ayariga's statement, the Presiding Member (PM) Mr. Solomon Awini, did not allow him, prompting the deputy MCD Fuseini Alhassan to accuse the PM of being "biased and incompetent in controlling the house".

Some members got infuriated, removing their smocks and coats in an attempt to attack the DMCD, who was quickly whisked away to avert any calamity.

The ensuing confusion disrupted proceedings for more than 30 minutes.

On resumption, personnel from the secretariat, including the MCE and the recorder refused to take their seats. In their absence, the house, having formed a quorum continued with proceedings, by electing a new recorder till deliberations came to an end.

Meanwhile, the House had resolved to send a petition to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development for the immediate transfer of the MCD for what they termed as his involvement in political issues in the area.

Earlier in his opening address, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Abdul-Rahman Gumah disclosed that the assembly targeted 2.1 billion cedis as revenue out of which 1.8 billion cedis would be used for the funding of development projects in the area.

He therefore, urged residents to contribute to the Assembly's development agenda by paying their taxes and basic rates regularly to enable it to improve their living conditions.