The 259 out of 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were yesterday simultaneously inaugurated across the country.
The Nkronza North and South in Bono East Region were not inaugurated because they had their elections in 2021 instead of 2019, in which case their terms would have expired in 2023.
Designated Judges and Magistrates swore the newly elected members and their presiding members. However, some assemblies could not elect their presiding members because they could not get the required two-third majority.
They swore the Oaths of Office and Secrecy.
Yesterday’s event was also in fulfilment of Article 35 Clause (d) of the 1992 Constitution which enjoins the state to promote decentralisation and popular participation in governance by affording all possible opportunities to the citizenry to participate in decision-making at all levels of government.
In Accra, CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS reports that the 16 members of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly elected Emmanuel Nyarko Baah as the Presiding Member while the election of one for 19-member Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly was postponed because the vote did not meet the required threshold.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in an address read on his behalf by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, urged the members to acquaint themselves with all the relevant laws on local governance to avoid conflicts with key stakeholders in their localities.
President Akufo-Addo called on the members to build good working relationships with the colleague assembly members, District Chief Executive, Member of Parliament, Staff of the District Assembly, and the people they represent.
“You should also establish strong partnerships and collaborate with the local structures particularly, the urban, town, zonal and area council, the unit committees and traditional authorities as well as other identifiable groups to facilitate the work of the District Assembly.
“As a first step, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, through the ILGS, will in the next few weeks organise your orientation and training to enable you appreciate the expected roles and responsibilities,” he added.
The Chief Executive of La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, Solomon Kotey Nikoi, called for collective support in implementing the policies and programs outlined in the assembly’s 2024 annual action plan aimed at fostering economic stability, growth and development leading to job creation, income generation and poverty reduction among others.
At the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly in Accra, BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY reports that Mr Hudu Ismail had been officially declared the Presiding Member (PM) after 18 members of the assembly voted in his favour.
District Magistrate, Kotobabi Magistrate Court, Maame Yaa Kusi-Mensah, administered the oath to Mr Ismail after his official declaration by the Electoral Officer of the assembly, Mrs Lydia Anom.
Ms Kusi-Mensah also administered the official oath of office and secrecy to the new assembly members comprising 12 elected members and six government appointees.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly, Mr Archibald Cobbina, further urged the government appointees to consider the assumption of their office as an honour and work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them by the President.
At Ashaiman, IAN MOTEY reports that 26 members of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly were sworn in yesterday for a mandatory four-year term.
From Tema, KEN AFEDZI reports that, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) swore-in a total of 31 assembly members including four females and 27 males.
They were sworn into office by the Magistrate of the Tema Court, Seyram Mahama through the administration of the oath of office and secrecy.
The Chairman of the Public Services Commission, Professor Victor Kwame Agyeman read the President’s address.
BERNARD BENGHAN reports that a Circuit Court Judge, El-Alawah Abdul-Baasit inaugurated nine newly elected assembly members and six government appointees in the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Kofi Amankwa-Manu, represented the President.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly, Mr George Cyril Bray, advised the newly elected assembly members to live up to their responsibilities, and to promote the well-being of the local people who voted for them.
Mr Bray called on the assembly members to strive for the goodness of their various communities, and always be mindful of the trust bestowed upon them by the citizens they proudly serve.
CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE reports from sekondi in the Western Region that the 57 assembly members, comprising 40 elected members and 17 government appointees of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) was swor-in by District Magistrate, Bernice Oduro-Kwarteng.
The Managing Director of Ghana Water Company, Dr Clifford A. Braimah, delivered the President’s message.
The Chief Executive of STMA, Mr Abdul-Mumin Issah, reminded the House that consensus was key in achieving the aspirations and improving the living standards of the people they represented.
FRANCIS DABANG DABRE reports from the Upper East Region that 15 Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) were successfully inaugurated.
A total of 24 assembly members, comprising 16 elected and eight government appointees were sworn-in by Mr Mawukoenya Nutekpor, Bolgatanga District Magistrate.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, Kumasi, said Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, Daniel Kwaku Botwe, identified lack of engagement between electorates and elected members as a key factor contributing to voter apathy during District Level Elections.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Botwe highlighted concerns regarding the low participation of women and Persons Living with Disabilities in local governance.
The newly inaugurated assembly, comprising 66 members including elected representatives, government appointees, the District Chief Executive, and Members of Parliament, face challenges ranging from congestion to sanitation issues.
Mr Samuel Pyne, Chief Executive Officer for the KMA, emphasised the need for concerted efforts among members to address these pressing concerns.
In a contested election, Mr Patrick Kwame Frimpong, retained his position as Presiding Member for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, signaling a continued commitment to local governance despite the persisting challenges.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, Tolon, said Tolon District Assembly in the Northern Region on Monday inaugurated the newly elected and appointed members of the assembly to champion the socio-economic development of the area for the next four years.
The Member of Council of State, N’yab Zung Naa, Col. (Rtd) Mahama Tahiru after the swearing-in, urged the assembly members to have cordial relation with the DCE and the staff of the district assembly.
Naa, Col. (Rtd) who delivered the President’s speech, said the NPP government had undertaken a number of interventions to expand its developmental projects across the country.
The Tolon District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Fuseini Salifu Issifu, called on members to see themselves as agents of change
for their respective communities and be partners in the development efforts of the assembly devoid of political, ethnic, religious and traditional biases.
He said the unit committees were councilors at the town or area councils were mandated to work hand-in-hand with the district assembly to implement and execute government policies and programmes as well as play a pivotal role in mobilisation of the Internal Generated Fund for the development of the district.
The assembly was yet to vote the presiding officer (MP) as at the time of filing this report and Tamale Metropolitan Assembly inauguration was scheduled to start.
The post 259 MMDAs inaugurated nationwide… as assembly members take office appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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