Confusion rocks endorsement of Sunyani West DCE

There was confusion on Tuesday when assembly members of the Sunyani West District Assembly met to endorse President Akufo-Addo’s nominee as Chief Executive.

The police had to disperse the assembly members with pepper spray in the midst of the confusion, Graphic Online gathered.

Some assembly members alleged the police used teargas to disperse them and expressed disapproval with how the police handled the situation, but the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh who was present for the endorsement Tuesday afternoon said it was pepper spray that the police used.

The DCE nominee, Mr Martin Obeng could not secure the endorsement as he got 64.8 per cent of the votes cast.

Out of the 54 assembly members who were present and voted, 19 voted NO whilst 35 voted YES. He needed two thirds [67 per cent] for the endorsement

The Regional Minister was said to have made moves for the members to take the voting for the second time after the first round, but following the confusion, the Presiding Member rescheduled the meeting.

Explaining, Mr Cheremeh in a radio interview with Accra based Asempa FM said he impressed on the presiding member to reschedule because the "atmosphere was not appropriate."

Mr Mohammed Alhassan, a government appointee on his part said they disapproved of the Regional Minister's style of trying to force them to endorse the nominee.

Mr Alhassan said the confusion started when they finished voting and the ballot was about to be counted.

He said the manner in which the security [police and soldiers] surrounded the ballot box created tension to the extent that the presiding member had to impress on them to allow space for all to have a clear view of the counting.

After the counting, one police man was said to have sprayed the pepper.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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