Attemps To Elect Presiding Member For TMA Fails

Assembly Members of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) on Wednesday failed to elect a new Presiding Member as none of the three contenders polled the expected two-thirds of the vote cast.

The seat of the Presiding Member became vacant when the Tema West Municipality was ceded off from the TMA.

The then Presiding Member's electoral area fell within the new Assembly and out of the jurisdiction of the TMA.

Out of the 32 votes cast, one was rejected while, the contenders Mr Eric Kojo Twumese from the Harbour Electoral Area had 11, Madam Doreen Ayensu Nyarko, a government appointee and Mr Joseph Kortu, Assembly Member of the Lowcost Electoral Area all polled 10 votes each falling short of the needed 23 votes.

Mr Samuel Donkor, Tema Metropolitan Coordinating Director, in accordance with the laws covering the election scheduled another election to be held after 10 days.

Mr Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, giving a speech before the cast of votes, said the absence of a Presiding Member was inhibiting the work of the Assembly.

Mr Anang-La added that it was affecting the approval of a Public Private Partnership arrangement for the management of the Tema Community Nine cemetery.

Without the Presiding Member, the TMA could not also approve the needed arrangement for the management of the Kpone Landfill site and some sister-city issues, among others.

The MCE further indicated that formation of the Authority Committee and other sub-committees had also delayed due to the absence of a Presiding Member at the Assembly.

GNA
By Laudia Sawer, GNA