Birim South Assembly fails to endorse government's nominee

The Birim South District Assembly in the Eastern Region has failed to endorse the government’s nominee, Mr Emmanuel Kwakye, as the new District Chief Executive (DCE).

Mr Kwakye, a businessman and the current Akyem Swedru Constituency Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), secured 20 out of the 38 votes cast by the assembly members present, representing 52.6 per cent, but failed to get the required two-thirds majority to ensure his endorsement.

Mr John Appiah Baffoe, the Birim Central Municipal Electoral Officer, who supervised the polls, said the election would be conducted again within 10 days for the assembly members to confirm Mr Kwakye.

The function attracted members from both sides of the political divide and traditional rulers.

They included Okotwaasuo Owarae Agyekum, the Omanhene of Akyem Bosome Traditional Area; Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo,  a former Minister of Finance in the Kufuor administration; Mr Antwi Berko, a former DCE; Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister designate; and Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister.

Speaking at the function earlier, Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere had enjoined the assembly members to endorse Mr Kwakye as the DCE, since the absence of a chief executive for over six months following the rejection of  Nana Baffour Mensah Takyi on four occasions, was stalling the development of the district. 

Madam Ama Frimpong expressed optimism that the assembly members would have a change of mind and endorse Mr Kwakye  in the supreme interest of the district’s development.

Okotwaasuo Oworae Agyekum said the absence of a DCE for the area had prevented many investors from doing business there.

He, therefore, advised the assembly members to endorse Mr Kwakye the next time to encourage more people to set up industries in the area to help solve the unemployment problem in the district.