I’m disappointed in KMA poll deadlock – Ackon

Ashanti Regional Minister John Alexander Ackon has expressed displeasure over the failed attempt of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to elect a Presiding Member on the sixth attempt.

“Obviously, I am very disappointed. I have not the least expected this development because all the consultations and briefing I had indicated that there was headway towards the appointment of the Presiding Member,” he said in an interview with Hafiz Tijani, Class FM’s Ashanti regional correspondent, on Tuesday October 4.

According to him, “Even though most of them (assembly members) assured me that today we are going to get a presiding member, unfortunately the goal post has been shifted.”

According to him, prior discussions with Members of Parliament and other influential people to intervene could not persuade the assembly members to accept a compromised decision to pave way for a Presiding Member.

“It was quite unexpected having gone through all the necessary stages. At a point I had to involve some of the MPs in Kumasi,” he stressed.

The KMA had to suspend proceedings indefinitely after Tuesday’s polls.

None of the two candidates vying for the Presiding Member slot could obtain the two-thirds majority votes needed for victory.

Abraham Boadi, Assembly Member for Ridge-Nhyiaeso Electoral Area, polled 69 votes while Adusei Bonsu Michael, Assembly Member for Asafo Dadieso Aba Electoral area had 50 votes.

None of the members will also accept a compromised decision to enable the assembly get a Presiding Member.

Even though Mr Ackon acknowledged the idea that a two-thirds majority rule was important, he lamented the difficulty in its implementation.