Bongo assembly gets presiding member after two failed attempts
The Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region succeeded in electing a Presiding Member (PM) last Thursday, after two unsuccessful attempts on January 23, 2020.
The PM-elect, Mr Duke Awinsume Anabah, is a professional marketer and lawyer. He is also the immediate past PM of the Assembly.
He got the nod after he secured 51 votes against two votes and one rejected ballot in an election conducted by the district’s Electoral Commission.
Mr Joseph A. Akasake, representing the Awaa Electoral Area and the main contender to the PM elect, had to step down after about five hours of consultations and mediation from stakeholders when the Assembly was eventually called to order for proceedings to commence.
After taking his oath which was administered by the Bongo District Magistrate, Mr Frederick Kaar, the PM thanked Mr Akasake for stepping down and paving the way for him.
“I was elected as PM through consensus building and I urge colleagues to let this guide our deliberations as a House going forward,” he said.
Mr Anabah also thanked the Bongo Naba, the District Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for the vital roles they individually played in ensuring that the Assembly got a PM to help hasten the development of the area.
Welfare fund
Mr Anaba pledged to establish a welfare fund for members of the House with GH¢100,000 as a target and immediately promised to put in his contribution of GH¢2,000 as leader of the Assembly.
The Bongo District Chief Executive, Mr Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga, urged members of the assembly to put aside their political affiliations whenever they converged for deliberations in the assembly.
Background
A 54-Member New Bongo District Assembly was inaugurated on Thursday, January 23, 2020.
The members are made up of 16 government appointees and 38 elected assembly members.
The occasion was also used to conduct elections for a new Presiding Member for the assembly.
However, the contestants, Awinsone Duke Anaba and Joe Abaah Akasake, both failed to secure the required 38 votes out of the 55 votes cast after two rounds of voting.