STMA inauguration nearly marred

Sekondi, March 15, GNA - But for the timely intervention of Nana Titi Apo 11, President of the Sekondi traditional council, the inauguration of the fifth assembly of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly would have been greatly marred. The elected assembly members wondered why the assembly should have 23 appointees instead of 16, and started mumbling when the names of the members were mentioned.

For close to 15 minutes, the assembly grounds, where the ceremony was taking place was filled with chaos and pandemonium, with some of elected members shouting, 93We don't understand this" and 93This is a= n affront to the constitution".

When calm was restored, the members were finally sworn in by Justice Kofi Akrowiah, a high Court Judge, at Sekondi. Nana Titi Apo, later appealed to the members to exercise restraint and urged them to consider the interest of the electorate. "They have elected you to serve and think about development rather than little things that did not unite them as one people", he advised.

Mr Kobina Annan Prah, Metropolitan Chief Executive was not happy about the earlier confusion, saying, the delay in having the assembly running has affected the local governance process. He entreated members to make the development of their various electoral areas a priority.