Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ada East District Assembly in the Greater Accra Region has elected Mr. Philip Tetteh Atchia as its new Presiding Member after six attempts.
Mr. Atchia, the Assembly Member for the Asigbekorpe Electoral Area, was the elected Presiding Member (PM) of the Ninth Assembly after five failed attempts.
He secured an overwhelming endorsement with 38 yes votes out of 39 valid, representing 97.44 per cent, while one “no” vote was recorded.
His election followed the decision of Mr. Ebenezer Nartey, Assembly Member for Ada-Foah Zongo, to step down from the race, allowing him to go unopposed.
The position had remained vacant for months due to intense disagreements, political interference, and disputes over who qualified to occupy the seat. The impasse had stalled the smooth running of assembly business and delayed developmental discussions in the district.
The election comes after two failed rounds of voting on April 30, where contenders Mr. Mark Nii Adjei Sowah and Mr. Ebenezer Tetteh Kpodo were unable to secure the legally required two-thirds majority.
In the first round, Mr Sowah polled 12 votes while Mr. Kpodo garnered 24, with 3 ballots rejected. In the second round, Mr Sowah increased his tally to 14 while Mr Kpodo maintained 24 votes. One ballot was rejected.
The process was further disrupted when a government appointee was caught taking a photo of his ballot, an act that contravenes electoral rules. The situation escalated, verbally attacking the electoral officer and journalists and prompting widespread outrage among assembly members.
The incident compelled authorities to cancel the process and call for fresh nominations, paving the way for Mr. Atchia to contest and win, bringing relief and renewed hope for effective local governance and development within the Ada East District as the district awaits the confirmation of its District Chief Executive nominee.
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