Tension over Ashaiman's PM term of office

Ashaiman, June 18, GNA - Tension is gradually mounting at the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) over a misunderstanding regarding the term of office of Mr Emmanuel Niikoi Dsane, the Assembly's Presiding Member.

While the Assembly Member for the Obakaatse electoral area popularly called Roman down, Mr Thomas Adongo, insists that the PM's term of office has elapsed, Mr Dsane also claims his term would expire next year.

The misunderstanding which has lingered on since January this year, took a different dimension on Tuesday morning, when the police was called in by the PM to throw Mr Adongo out of an assembly meeting. Mr Dsane told the Ghana News Agency that Mr Adongo who misconducted himself during an assembly meeting refused to obey his (PM) call to order, and threatened to disrupt the meeting which was being held to constitute the assembly's six sub-committees. He said the position of the PM mandates him to suspend any member who misconducts himself during sitting, noting that, he had no option than to call in the security to restore order at the assembly as Mr Adongo failed to follow laid down procedures.

Commenting on whether his term of office had ended or not, Mr Dsane indicated that he is mandated by law to occupy the seat for two years, which he said was yet to expire as ASHMA was created only a year ago. Mr Adongo on his part told GNA that the term of office of the PM expired on November 30, 2008 as he was to occupy the position for one year, since the assembly was carved out of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) whose presiding member has already served one year. The Assembly Member who contested and lost the seat to Mr Dsane last year alleged that all the 16 assembly members agreed that ASHMA has no PM after Mr Addison Adinortey Numo; the Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive failed in his attempt to convince them to allow the PM to occupy the seat for another year.

He further said on Tuesday at about 1000 hours, he decided to be the Member Presiding the assembly meeting which is the accepted practice when the position of the PM is declared vacant. Mr Adongo again alleged that just as he was about to start the meeting, Mr Dsane walked in and demanded to chair the meeting, creating confusion among members present. He said the PM then called in the security comprising police and military personnel to forcibly walk him out. He said it was unfortunate that the MCE and the PM were politicizing the issue even though the concept of assembly is non partisan, adding that the situation if not checked would disrupt the smooth running of the assembly and the municipality. He also threatened to take legal action against the PM over his term of office in accordance with the Local Government Act 462.