Birim South Assembly endorses Kwakye as DCE

The Birim South District Assembly in the Eastern Region has endorsed Mr Emmanuel Kwakye as the District Chief Executive (DCE).

Mr Kwakye, a private businessman and current chairman of the Akyem Swedru Constituency of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), polled 33 of the 39 valid votes cast, representing 84.62 per cent.

The Birim Central Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr John Appiah Baffoe, supervised the polls last Monday which was attended by people from all walks of life including the Eastern Regional Minister designate, Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere; the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, and the Eastern Regional Organiser of the NDC, Mr Tawiah Boateng.

In the first election conducted on June 20, 2014, Mr Kwakye failed to get the endorsement when he secured 20 out of the 38 valid votes cast. 

Even though Mr Kwakye secured more than 50 per cent of the valid votes cast, he could not get the two-thirds majority to qualify him for the endorsement, hence the need for the second round of voting 10 days later.

Earlier, Mr Antwi Boasiako had advised the assembly members to endorse Mr Kwakye as the absence of a substantive DCE for the district for seven months was hindering the development of the district. 

He urged Mr Kwakye to work hard to raise the quality of life of the people.

Mr Antwi Boasiako thanked the assembly members for voting massively for Mr Kwakye. 

The Deputy Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Frimpong, also admonished the traditional and religious leaders, as well as assembly members to give the new DCE their support and co-operation to ensure the success of his administration. 

She also warned him not to witch-hunt. 

In his acceptance speech, Mr Kwakye thanked God, President John Mahama, the national, Eastern Regional and Birim South District executive members of the NDC, the assembly members, as well as all those who made his endorsement possible.

He promised to run an open-door administration. 

Mr Kwakye appealed to investors to do business in the district to speed up the development of the district and create jobs for the unemployed youth in the area.