Four vie for Upper East slot(D/G Saturday, January 31, 2009. Pg 14)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga.
Four persons have filed their nomination papers to contest for Council of State membership in the Upper East Region. They are Mr. Robert Atuguba, Very Rev. Dr. Jacob Ayeebo, Madam Melanie Kasise and Madam Hilda J. Salifu.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Godwin T. Okley who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga said out of the 10 persons who picked up nominations forms, only the four named above submitted their forms at the close of nomination on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
He said the EC was on course adding that all things being equal the election which had been scheduled for February 10, 2009 will come on.
Mr. Robert A. Atuguba, 69, hails from Mirigu in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region. He is a retired educationist and was a former Regional Director of Education in the Upper East Region.
Very Rev. Dr. Jacob Ayeebo, 49, holds a PHD in Philosophy and a Minister of Religion with the Anglican Church. He is currently the Presiding Member of the Bawku West District Assembly. Rev. Dr. Ayeebo is also a Development Worker; presently he is the Executive Director of the Anglican Diocesan and Relief Organization, (ADDRO),
Next on the list is Madam Melanie Kasise, 74. She is also a Retired Educationist. Madam Kasise founded the Sirigu Women’s Organisation of Pottery and Art (SWOPA) in 1997. Under her leadership, SWOPA has become an internationally respected body, commanding visits by tourists and investors all over the world. In 2007, Melanie Kasise received a national Grand Medal award in recognition of her contributions to regional development.
She also represented women in the region in the consultative Assembly that drew up the 1992 Constitution, and was the first female presiding member of Kassena-Nankana District Assembly.
Madam Hilda J. Salifu, 63, completes the list of applicants for the job. Madam Salifu popularly known as ‘Madam Bolco’ is the first national vice chairperson of the NDC.
She is Cert A Teacher and presently a well known Business woman.