Garu-Tempane District fails to confirm President’s nominee

Garu-Tempane District fails to confirm President’s nominee Story:Benjamin Xornam Glover, Garu The Garu-Tempane District Assembly in the Upper East Region has failed to endorse the President’s nominee, Mr Albert A. Akoka as its District Chief Executive (DCE). Out of the 40 Assembly members who voted, he polled 25 votes representing 62.5 per cent as the remaining 15 voted against her resulting in her inability to secure the mandatory two thirds majority votes to clinch an endorsement. The Electoral Commission(EC) led by the Regional Director, Mr Bruce Ayisi which conducted the exercise said per the formula, the nominee had to obtain 67 per cent to have his appointment confirmed and having failed to do so, a second round of voting will have to be conducted on a new date, an opportunity granted by law. Prior to the holding of the assembly sitting, the Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru had passed the night in the district with the view of holding consultation with the electoral college to remove all impediments and have a smooth approval process. On the morning of the polls on Monday morning, another round of consultation with the electoral college was held in the office of the DCE presided over by the Regional Minister to thrash out all differences. However, after the first round of voting, it appeared the consultations failed achieve its objectives. The nominee was two votes short of the votes needed to confirm him. Addressing the assembly men and women after the process, the Regional Minister urged the assembly men and women not to be disheartened about the outcome since an opportunity exist for them to make amends. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru , appealed to the Assembly members to bury their differences and endorse the President’s nominee at the next opportunity since the district is lagging behind in terms of development. "We need development. one year is almost gone and we still don't have a DCE. We need to take the developmental needs of the district into consideration and soften our stance. Your have communicated your concerns through diplomacy and we understand. We will go back and right the wrong so that at the next opportunity, message have been sent clearly and we will take it into consideration," the regional minister said. The acting Presiding Member, Mr Edward Dahamani, expressed disappointment at the outcome of the polls stressing that without that development process of the district will be stalled and urged the assembly members to reconsider their position and give the nominee the nod at the next sitting Prior to the conduct of the election, the nominee, pledged to unite the people and mobilize them to work towards the development of the area. He said as the DCE for the district which is also deprived, he will work together with all assembly men and women to improve livelihoods of the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable the in a sustainable manner. He said he would focus on improving infrastructure in education, health, agriculture and sanitation among others. Also, we would take steps to improve on the human resource base of assembly in a bud to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. He enumerated eleven key goals he intends to achieve and enlisted the support of all the assembly men and women as well as the people in the district to collaborate with his administration. Present were the the DCEs for Binduri and Builsa North District Assemblies, Messrs Daniel Akologo Adoliba and Bonaventure Adangabey End Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh Quick read -The nominee, prior to his appointed was an accountant with PPHD -Among his plans was to take steps to improve on the human resource base of assembly in a bid to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. -Conspicuously absent at confirmation programme was the two sitting MPs in the district Messrs Dominic Azimbe Azumah and David Adakudurugu