Government appointees urged to remain non-partisan

Denu (V/R), Feb. 24, GNA - Mr Samuel Petty Haligah, Presiding Member of the Ketu South District Assembly has reminded government appointees of the non-partisan principle governing the work of the assembly and urged them to tackle its business in that spirit. He said they would be required to focus their energies on local revenue generation, promote agriculture, sanitation and fight malfeasance to make the decentralization concept bear fruits in the area.

Mr Haligah gave the advice at the swearing in of 14 new appointees to the assembly, made up of traditional rulers, health experts, fishermen, media personnel, artisans and educationists in Denu. "I am not in any doubt of the rich background of the appointees and hope they would enrich the work of the assembly to promote the interest of the vast majority of the people," he said. Group Captain Martin Obeng-Ntim (Rtd), a Circuit Court Judge, administered the oath of secrecy and office to the new appointees and wished them well.

Some members of the assembly had earlier objected to Mr Haligah presiding over the meeting, arguing that his two years tenure as Presiding Member had elapsed.

Their objection was stood down when Mr Peter Kwesi Thompson, the District Coordinating Director read a directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development suspending the election of new presiding members throughout the country. 24 Feb. 09