9TH KUMASI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY INAUGURATED
Hon. Dan Kwaku Botwe, Minister Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development(MLGD&RD), on behalf of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has inaugurated the ninth Assembly of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) at the Rattray Park, Kumasi on Monday February 12, 2024.
Sixty-six Assembly Members made up of 40 elected members, and 20 government appointees, and five members of parliament who constitute the KMA were sworn-into office by Her Worship Hilda Esther Wryter of Asokwa District Court.
Among the 66 members of the KMA, only six members are females, and two are persons with disability.
In his inaugural address, the President of the Republic of Ghana, congratulated elected Assembly and Unit Committee Members for their success in the election.
He noted that, the Local Government system per Article 35 Clause 6(D) of the 1992 Constitution seek to promote decentralization and popular participation in governance by the citizenry, hence the need to make Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies functional.
He added that, Assembly members were mandated among other duties to deliberate, plan, mobilize resources, make decisions, and formulate by-laws that could transform their Assemblies.
In view of the enormity of leadership challenges confronting Assembly Members, the Member of Parliament for Okere Constituency told the gathering, the government was keen on building the capacity at the Institute of Local Government Studies.
He said, in the next few weeks, the MLGD&RD would organize orientation and training for Assembly to appreciate their expected roles and responsibilities.
He urged Assembly members to create platforms such as town hall, durbars and digitalized citizens’ engagement tools to enhance their relationship with their electorates.
He advised them to be selfless, devoted to duty and remain accountable to their electorate.
The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon Samuel Pyne admonished the new Assembly to discharge its mandate dispassionately to bring total development to Kumasi.
He charged Assembly Members to work diligently in the quest to keep the metropolis clean, ease decongestion andcreate enabling environment to boost businesses.
Honourable Patrick Kwame Frimpong, Assembly member for Krofrom West retained his seat as the Presiding Member for KMA to serve in same capacity in Ninth Assembly.
By an overwhelming endorsement in the second round of election supervises by the Electoral Commission, 55 out of58 members present during voting at inaugural meeting of the Assembly voted 'yes' in favour of the former PM.
Hitherto his endorsement, two other Assembly members by close of nomination opened by the Electoral Commission joined in the contest for PM in the first round.
Hon Agrippa Opoku, Assemblyman for North Suntreso, and Hon. Ernest Ofori Baffour, Assemblyman for Fante New town were the two Assembly Members who were part of the PM contest.
At the end of polls in the first round, Hon. Kwame Frimpong obtained 34 votes, Hon. Ofori Baffour,19 votes, whiles Hon. Agripa Opoku managed only five votes.
The electoral law prohibited Hon. Agripa Opoku from contesting, leaving Hon. Kwame Frimpong and Hon. Ofori Baffour as the only contenders for second round of the election since none obtained the requisite votes to become the PM initially.
Before start of second round of the election, Hon. Ofori Baffour pulled out from the contest to leave the former PM as the only candidate. He was confirmed by a Yes or No votes.
Hon. Kwame Frimpong was sworn-in as new PM by Her Worship Hilda Wryter.
In a remark, he thanked the Assembly Members for their massive endorsement, and asked for their support to his tenure successful.
For his part, the Mayor of Kumasi, Hon Samuel Pyne, who could not hide his over successful election of PM thanked Assembly Members for their full cooperation during the election process.
He, therefore urged the Assemblymembers to replicate same cooperation and support during their stay in office.
He further appealed to them to discharge their mandate to the benefit of their electorates.
The memorable event was witness bythe Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Mr Francis Dwira-Darko, heads of department, former assembly members, traditional leaders, leaders of faith-based organizations, and the general public.
Signed
HENRIETTA A.K. ABOAGYE
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER-KMA