Tamale Metropolitan Assembly elects Presiding Member

Tamale, Sept.5, GNA - Mr. Hanaani Rahman Gundaa-Doo, a 32 year-old teacher, was at the week-end elected Presiding Member of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.

Mr Gundaa-Doo polled 76 votes out of the 78 votes cast representing 92 per cent.

He together with the other assembly members were, sworn into office by Mrs Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Tamale Circuit Court Judge. Mr. Gundaa-Doo in his acceptance speech pledged to work hard and called for cooperation from the Assembly to develop the metropolis. Mr. Charles Binipong Bintim, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development commended the assembly, chiefs and the people for the peaceful elections.

He said: "as representa tives of the people, you must ensure that basic social amenities such as water, good roads, and health facilities are provided. You should work closely with the chiefs and the people in the communities to promote and sustain peace and development." Mr. Bintim said the Government had allocated 10 billion cedis to the Assembly for waste management but because the assembly was not reconstituted funds for development projects could not be utilised. Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Northern Regional Minister, said the assembly " would be hollow without a MCE and therefore, appealed to the members to reflect on the issue and confirm the President's nominee. Earlier, the assembly could not confirm the President's nominee, Alhaji Iddrisu Adam, Acting Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive as Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE.

Mr. Gundaa-Doo explained that technically, the Presiding Member had to convene a meeting of the assembly to confirm the President's nominee. No date has been fixed for the confirmation of the MCE. The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly is the last in the region to be constituted.