Assembly elects chief as Presiding Member

Koforidua, Sept. 23, GNA - The chief of Koforidua-Ada in the New Juaben Traditional Area, Odeefuor Boadi Asiedu, has been elected the Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly on Wednesday. He polled 55 votes out of 64 votes cast in the second round after none of the three contestants failed to poll the required 47 votes. The other two contestants, Nana Kwame Nyanteh and Mr Martin Owusu Barfi, who obtained 7 and 8 votes respectively in the first round, stepped down, while Odeefour Boadi Asiedu had 46 votes.

Prior to the election, the out-going Presiding Member, Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng, informed the house of a letter written by Mr George Boakye Yiadom, Assembly member for Asokore, challenging the legality of the timing of the election.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, in a reaction, noted that, the letter was addressed to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and not the House therefore the election could not be suspended on the account of the said letter.

He said if by the time the Minister would react to the letter, the election had already been held, the petitioner had the right to go and seek redress in the law courts.

Oddefour Boadi Asiedu, who was later sworn into office by the Supervising High Court Judge, Mr Justice Francis Korbieh assured the House of his determination to work towards improving the welfare of members, during his tenure and asked for their cooperation.

In her departing remarks, Ms Boateng thanked the Assembly members for their co-operation during her two-year tenure of office and urged them to support her successor to lift the image of the House.

She noted with satisfaction that, she had not heard any adverse report on her performance so far, and urged the members to work hard to justify the confidence that the electorates reposed in them.