Ho Assembly approves President's appointee

The Ho Municipal Assembly, with a fresh set of government appointees, Monday approved Mrs Fafa Adinyira as Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on the second ballot.

She polled 27 as against 14 votes, exactly two thirds of the 41 members present to clinch victory.

Mrs Adinyira, a Human Resource Professional, in September failed to get the approval of the Assembly, sparking a mainly gender-based protestation, including street marches and formal appeals to government to re-nominate her.

The Assembly was stormy as some Assembly Members questioned the appropriateness of the processes as the agenda coming with the notice for the sitting of the Assembly did not mention sacking and swearing in of new government appointees.

“Something serious is about to happen in this House which could be an illegality,” Mr Delali Kasu, Assembly Member for Klefe said.

He said the Assembly Members would refuse to be intimidated by the High Table, referring to those on the dais with Mr Kofi Semorde, Presiding Member.

Mr Kasu said if such posturing succeeded in circumventing due processes elsewhere, the Ho Assembly was different and could not be stampeded.

Those on the dais included Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Deputy Regional Minister and host of district chief executives.

The tussle over the rightness of the processes continued for a while before the old government appointees took leave of the house and new ones called up to the front and sworn in by Mr Augustine Akusah, a Ho Magistrate.

Mr Afotey-Agbo addressing the Assembly before the first balloting said the impression that there was a struggle between the appointing authority and the Assembly was at variance with Ghanaian culture.

Mr Ganyaglo on his part urged the Assembly Members to do just what was honourable to confirm the Pressident’s nominee.

She, however, failed to get the job with 26 votes in favour and 15 against, short of the two thirds majority by one vote.

The House went for a break, resumed for a second ballot which gave Mrs Adinyira the nod.

Mr Semorde in a comment said the heady proceedings just reflected democracy and gave indication that contemporary politics had no room for intimidation but dialogue.

Mrs Adinyira was sworn in by Mr Akusaha after which she pledged to work to speed up the development of the Municipality.