Asante-Akim Assembly without Presiding Member for two years

The Asante-Akim Central Municipal Assembly has for almost two years been without a Presiding Member (MP).

An attempt by the assembly members to get that resolved on last Thursday failed as none of the two contestants for the position could secure the mandatory two-thirds majority votes.

Pleas by chiefs and religious leaders who were there to witness the election for members to climb down from their entrenched positions and end the stalemate were ignored.

This led to some chaotic scenes outside the assembly hall, visible anger, frustration and disappointment among the large number of people who thronged the assembly hoping the deadlock would be broken.

Many accused the assembly members of pursuing self-serving agenda and for not having the development of the area at heart.

The contest was a straight fight between Mr. Thomas Osei-Bonsu and Mr. George Kyei-Baffour, both former PMs, after two other nominees had withdrawn from the race.

Mr. Osei-Bonsu polled 21 votes as against 14 by Mr. Kyei-Baffour after two rounds of voting, forcing the postponement of the election.

Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Madam Anima Wilson, who is also acting as the Municipal Chief Executive, appealed to the assembly members to rethink their hard-line positions and find a common ground.**