TMA gets PM after two failed attempts

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has finally elected a new presiding member (PM).

This follows the election of Mr Joseph Korto by assembly members at a special meeting held last Tuesday.

Mr Korto, who in two previous meetings failed to secure the two-thirds majority votes required to be confirmed as the PM, polled 23 votes while his contender, Madam Doreen Ayensu Nyarko, a government appointee, garnered nine votes.

Mr Korto, who is also the assembly member for the Low Cost Electoral Area in Tema Community 9, was sworn into office by a Tema District Magistrate, Mr Joseph McAli Junior.

Setback

The assembly had been without a PM since March 2018 when the position became vacant as a result of the creation of a new municipality out of the TMA.

The absence of a PM had prevented the assembly from taking major decisions for the facilitation of development in the metropolis and made the assembly unable to form various working committees to facilitate development in the area.

Change

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Korto pledged to conduct himself in line with the laid-down rules of the assembly so that the house would take the best decisions that would bring change to the inhabitants of the metropolis.

The PM-elect appealed to his colleagues to support the staff of the assembly in their revenue mobilisation drive to ensure that the assembly acquired the needed revenue for the development and progress of the metropolis.

Mr Korto said he would work with the metropolitan chief executive (MCE) and assembly members to fast-track the establishment of the Tema Central Sub-Metro offices for effective delivery of services to the residents.

Mr Korto, who has been an assembly member for 16 years and as such is the longest-serving assembly member in the Greater Accra Region, pledged to work with the MCE of Tema, Mr Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, to improve the sanitation situation in the Tema area.

Pledge

Mr Anang-La commended the members of the assembly for finally settling on a PM, stressing that it would ensure that programmes and policies earmarked for the metropolis were carried out as planned.

He also called on residents to remain confident and steadfast in the ability of the present administration to deliver on the promises contained in the Tema Restoration Agenda, adding that the assembly had an unwavering commitment and resolve to move Tema to the next level.

He indicated that in the area of education, some corporate organisations had come up with proposals to adopt schools and provide the necessary amenities to enhance education delivery in the metropolis.