The recent election in the Wenchi Municipal Assembly in the Bono Region failed to produce a Presiding Member, after two rounds of voting supervised by the Electoral Commission.
After the inauguration of the ninth assembly, the incumbent Presiding Member, James Kwasi Oduro Asare, competed against the Assembly Member for Twisiase Electoral Area, Henry Ameworwor. In the first round of voting, Mr Oduro Asare secured 16 votes, Mr Ameworwor garnered 22 votes, and three ballots were rejected. In the second round, Mr Oduro Asare had 17 votes against 23 votes of Mr Ameworwor with one rejected vote.
The Wenchi Municipal Electoral Officer, Christina Opoku, stated that a winner must secure at least 29 votes, which is a two-thirds majority of the 41-member assembly. As none of the candidates secured the required majority, the election has been postponed for the next 10 days.
In a related development, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who addressed the assembly on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce laws to address the issue of unplanned settlements in their localities. The President is concerned about the emerging trend that threatens national development and public safety. He called for the enforcement of planning standards and compliance with land use and spatial planning regulations to mitigate the negative impacts of unplanned resettlements on the development of the assemblies.
He also urged the assembly members to support the implementation of all government projects at the local level. The outcome of the election for the Presiding Member and the call for addressing unplanned settlements reflect the need for effective governance and planning at the local level to ensure sustainable development.
