Seven TMA members sacked, government nominee confirmed

Tema, June 16, GNA - The Tema Municipal Assembly on Thursday confirmed the President's nominee, Mr David Quaye Annang, a 47 year old Agricultural Economist as the new Municipal Chief Executive. He polled 57 out of the 69 members present, with three absentees and seven prevented from voting because their appointment had been revoked. The voting was conducted and supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile minutes before the voting the Assembly received a letter from the Deputy Local Government Minister, Mr Abraham Dwumo Odoom, revoking the appointments of the seven of the 25 government appointees of the Assembly. A letter dated June 16 and copied to the Regional Minister, indicated that approval had been given by the President to revoke the appointment of the seven members who were among the 25 government appointees to the Assembly. Those affected were Mr John Sewu, Mr Foster Bortey, Mr Joseph Ashitey Solomon Appiah, Ms Mercy Martey, Nii Armah Semponu and Mrs Agnes Adu.

In an interview with the GNA, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Nii Adotey Abotsi III said the news came as a shock to those affected because that was only few minutes to the Assembly's elections to endorse or disapprove the nominee for the position of Municipal Chief Executive. The meeting, which was to have started at 10 hours was delayed for over three hours because of closed doors meeting with the Regional Minister, Sheik I. C. Quaye who had then arrived to witness the occasion. He expressed surprise that the Assembly ignored the constitutional demand that dispelled members should be replaced before voting. The affected members who claimed they did not receive copies of the letter expressed regrets about the way their appointments had been revoked.

"We have worked and toiled for the development of the municipality so it is unfair if we are treated this way", one added. In a short address before the elections, the Deputy Regional Minister, Mrs Gloria Akuffo advised members to bury their differences and forge ahead for the growth of the Assembly and progress of the municipality. She reminded them that the President had made his nomination in consultation with some of the members In his acceptance speech, Mr Annang thanked the President for nominating him and the members for the confidence reposed in him. He said even though members belonged to different political parties it was necessary for them to come together and corporate with him so that together they could move the municipality forward.

The election had been adjourned twice as a result of series of meetings with the top hierarchy of the NPP. In an interview later Mr Annang said he would take time to study the situation and in consultation with the members and technical team find a solution to pertinent issues bordering on sanitation, decongestion and the removal of used cars from the city centre to the designated place at the Kpone Motor Village.