Dangme West in marathon voting

Dodowa (GAR), Jan. 24, GNA - The Dangme West District Assembly has a new Presiding Member in the person of Nene Tetteh Afutu III, Afienya Mantse after a marathon of five rounds of voting that lasted three hours at the weekend.

Professor Jerome Djangmah, the former Presiding Member did not stand for re-election and paved the way for Mr Emmanuel A. Akonotey and Nene Afutu.

After three rounds of voting Mr Akonotey stepped down after his supporters prevailed upon him to do so.

The next round produced a lot of drama as the "Yes or No" voting also produced a stalemate, which resulted in favour of Nene Afutu polling 34 votes against 14.

The out-going Presiding Member, the District Chief Executive, Mr K.T.K. Agban and the NDC Member of Parliament Mr David Assimang took turns to plead with members to end the voting for economic reasons. "We spend 8.4 million cedis at each meeting of the assembly and I plead with you all to save us the expenses of declaring a winner", the officials appealed to the members.

This proved positive as the voting showed Nene Afutu scoring 35 against 12 for the "No", thereby gaining the required two-thirds majority.

Mr W.K. Owusu, District Magistrate for the area swore in Nene Afutu who was clad in rich Kente cloth.

Presenting the sigma of office to Nene Afutu, Professor Djangmah heaved a sign of relief, saying, "I admire the unaniminity during this hectic time of voting".

In his inaugural speech delivered in Dangme, Nene Afutu assured the members that he would draw on his rich experience as a traditional ruler to steer the affairs of the Assembly.

"I will ensure that our flagging fortunes in revenue collection will be the envy of many assemblies but please give me your maximum support", he pleaded.

Mr Appiah Aryeh, District Electoral Officer conducted the elections.