Bolga residents want ‘enlightened’ MCE

A survey conducted by Youth in Governance and Development Association in the Bolgatanga Municipality has revealed that many people want a new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

According to the association, most respondents, who answered questions posed by members and volunteers, want a decisive, development-oriented and non-partisan person as MCE. A statement issued to the media in Bolgatanga to announce the outcome of the survey, said the respondents had the opportunity of selecting candidates who had been tipped to occupy the position.

A large number of respondents, according to the Association, would like the President to nominate the former Assembly Member for Zaare Electoral Area, Noble Alagskomah Asakiya, who is also a youth and development advocate.

Mr Alagskomah, who is known for his developmental efforts, regularly serves as a resource person in some radio stations in the Bolgatanga Municipality and talks mainly on issues on sanitation, health and revenue mobilization.

Spokesperson for the Association, Moses Azuure said his outfit has no intention of promoting any aspirant.

He said they conducted the survey to collate the views of the residents and to advise the President and his handlers in the selection of the nominees.

According to Moses Azuure, members of the association and volunteers spoke to Assembly members, Unit Committees members, market women, members of youth groups, taxi drivers, farmers and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

21 out of 32 Assembly members of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, who were interviewed, chose Mr Asakiya.

“Giving reasons for their choice of another person the assembly members said the assembly, led by MCE Edward Ayeliba, was not committed to promoting transparency and accountability in the management of the Assembly’s resources and governance. The Assembly members also stated that the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, through the efforts of its Development Control Taskforce, mobilized an amount of GHC600,000 from market women and other business entities and they (Assembly members) wanted to use the money for priority projects in the Assembly’s medium-term development plan to improve the quality of life of the people, but regrettably they said they could not trace it at the Assembly,” the report stated.

Most youth groups described Mr Asakiya as an experienced public servant, speaker and visionary. According to the report on the survey, Mr Asakiya identifies himself with young people.

Meanwhile, the report said about two percent of the respondents expressed reservation about the conduct of Mr Asakiya and condemned his decision not to eat or drink anything apart from water in public.

“They explained that once he does not drink in public, people, especially party boys, would find it extremely difficult to socialize with him or ask him to buy them drinks for celebrations and they are not comfortable with the lifestyle. They said as a politician, you need to eat and drink with the people everywhere,” the report noted.

Mr. Azuure Moses said the survey would be conducted in other districts in the Upper East Region to help the President to nominate competent individuals to steer the affairs of the assemblies.