BAWKU ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS NOMINEE (Page 15)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover,

The Bawku Municipal Assembly in the Upper East Region on Thursday confirmed the President's nominee, Mr Abdulai Abanga, as the new Municipal Chief Executive. He replaces Mr Abdul Rahman Gumah, who was recently relieved of his post by the President.
 Mr Abanga, who until his nomination served as the Management Accountant with the Millennium Challenge Authority (MCA), polled 44 votes out of the total of 47 votes cast, representing 93 per cent in an election supervised by the Electoral Commission.
 The Assembly Hall went into wild jubilation as soon as the results were declared.
 Mr Abanga, was led by Mr Alex Owusu-Ofori, a Circuit Court Judge, to take the oath of office and allegiance.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Abanga promised to implement an open-door policy, indicating that as an assembly member of the municipality, he would not hesitate to consult members of the House and anybody who mattered in taking critical decisions that would affect the municipality.
He said his administration would be transparent and pledged to promote peace, unity and development in the area.
The 38-year-old chartered accountant said he would put his expertise to bear to improve on the assembly’s internal revenue generation while still ensuring that the revenue did not land in individual’s pockets.
He called on national and international organisations to come to the aid of the innocent people in the municipality who were victims of the recent ethnic conflict, indicating that most of them lost everything and were living with shattered hopes.
Prior to the elections, the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr John Agobre,  expressed regret at the recent conflict that rocked the municipality, which, he said, claimed so many lives and properties.