Election of Presiding Member for Bolga Municipal Assembly greeted with disappointment

    Mathias Gandaa Asokiyine ( Left) in verbal confrontation with Hon. Atongo   

For the second time running, the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly has failed to elect a presiding member to preside over the business of the assembly.   

Today’s contest which was between the Assembly Member for Zuarungu Central, Roland Abire and Mathias Gandaa  Asokiyine, Assembly member for  Kalbeo yielded no positive results. 

The two were not able to attain two thirds of the number of votes cast. 

In all, fifty three elected and appointed assembly members took part in the voting exercise supervised by the Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Azu Bosco. 

At the end of the first round of voting, Roland Abire, a teacher polled 24 votes as against 21 chalked by Mr Asokiyine, a local government expert and a Civil Engineer by profession. 

The number of rejected votes was seven. 

A second round of voting was organised to ensure a winner but in the end, members of the house again failed to produce one. 

At the end of voting, Mr Abire has 22 while Mr Asokiyine obtained 23 votes. In view of this, the EC decided to postpone the election to pave way for broader consultation and campaign among members. 

However, the intention, of the EC was welcomed with mixed reactions from some assembly members some of whom moved a motion for the two candidates to step aside to allow other interested candidates to apply for the position. 

The motion which was initially moved by a government appointee, Abubakari Atongo Saluc, was seconded by a section of the house. 

Those in favour of the motion that the candidates step aside for fresh nominations were 18 as against 24 who opposed the motion. 

On behalf of the Regional Minister, who is also the acting MCE for Bolgatanga, the Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Abdullai Abubakar called for the adjournment of the polls. 

Alhaji Abubakar who was not happy about the turn of event advised the assembly members to unite as body and engage themselves  in healthy consultations to enable them produce a Presiding Member in  the next election.   

It will be recalled that the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly during the national inaugural ceremony of newly elected and appointed assembly members failed to elect a presiding member. 

Four assembly members  including Thomas Nyaaba and John Ayimbilla contested for the position. 

After second round of voting in the keenly contested election, Thomas Nyaaba obtained 24 votes while his main contender Roland Abire had 22 votes with 7 rejected ballots. 

The election was therefore postponed because both candidates were not able to attain two thirds of the number of votes cast. 

Meanwhile, Mr Asokiyine in a short message has given the assurance that further consultations will be done with members of the house on the way forward, hence the need for the house to exercise restraints while talks resume.

GBC NEWS                                                             END                                                        IA/