Effutu Assembly fails to elect Presiding Member

Members of Effutu Municipal Assembly at the weekend failed to elect a Presiding Member after two rounds of balloting.

None of the two contestants obtained the two-thirds of votes required for winning.

Very Reverend Eldad Bonney, incumbent Presiding Member polled 17 votes representing 62 per cent while Mr Joseph S. Silver, Assembly Member for Tufuhene Electoral Area obtained 9 votes representing 32 percent during the first round.

Before the elections, Mr Anthony Oppong, Effutu Municipal Electoral Officer said per the 1992 Constitution, members of parliament are ex-officio members of the assemblies and, therefore, have no voting powers.

Mr Alex Afenyo Markin, Member of Parliament for Effutu and Assembly member for Kojo Beedu South electoral Area, raised objection that he is still the assembly member for the area.

The house after a two- hour deliberation on the issue, accepted his objection on grounds that there was no provision in the Assembly Standing Orders or the Constitution indicating that, when an Assembly member is elected member of parliament for a constituency, his or her functions as an Assemblyman ends.

Another election will be held within two-weeks as stated in the Standing Orders of the Assembly.