Four file to contest Council of State membership in Upper East

Bolgatanga, Jan. 30, GNA - Four prominent opinion leaders from the Upper East Region have filed their nominations to contest and represent the region on the National Council of State. The four are Mr Robert Amalitinga Atugba, a first degree holder and retired educationist and Very Reverend Dr Jacob Ayeebo, PhD holder and a former Presiding Member of the Bawku West District Assembly. The other two are Madam Melanie Kasise, also a retired educationist, and a Diploma holder in Advanced Studies in education and Madam Hilda Salifu, a businesswoman and a holder of Teacher Certificate 'A'. Al four submitted their nomination forms on Tuesday January 27 2008.

Investigations conducted by Ghana News Agency (GNA) in the region indicated that the contest would be keen following the contributions of the contestants to developments in the area. Their contributions, he said, could be seen in areas such as human capital investment, job creation, education and training for the people. An official of the Electoral Commission in the Upper East Region, Mr Godwin Okley, GNA said all things being equal; the election would take place on February 10, 2009.

He said, however, that his outfit had received notice from the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council asking the Commission to hold on with the election and wait for further instructions. Mr Okley said the nine District and Municipal assemblies in the region were expected to nominate two representatives each who would constitute the Electoral College that would be mandated to elect one person to represent the region.

He explained that the membership of the Council was drawn from each of the 10 Regions, and normally includes a former Inspector General of Police, a Former Chief Justice, a Former Chief of Defense Staff and 11 others appointed by the President. 30 Jan. 09