Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly gets Presiding member 

Members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, KMA, have finally elected a Presiding Member after many failed attempts. 

This was at their 7th Extra -Ordinary General Meeting in Kumasi today (October 13)

The new Presiding Member is Nana Adu Mensah Asare, the Amakomhene. 

Nana Adu Mensah was one of the three new government appointees who were sworn in just before nominations opened for the position after the two earlier contestants, Abraham Boadi of Ridge Nhyiaeso, and Michael Adusei Bonsu of Asafo Dadiesoaba, stepped down to pave the way for new people to put themselves up for consideration of  the 146-member KMA. 

Before proceedings began, the Secretary to the Assembly, Michael Ataogye who was the Convener of the Meeting, announced that three of the government appointees who represented the Kumasi Traditional Council have their membership revoked. 

They are Baffuor Agyei Kesse, Adumhene and one time Presiding Member of the KMA, Nana Kusi Boadu, and Nana Yaw Atta. They were replaced by the appointment of Nana Adu Mensah Asare, Nana Mensah Bonsu and Nana Kwame Bonsu. 

In their remarks before the election, the two contestants at the previous sessions, Abraham Boadi and Michael Adusei Bonsu indicated that there had been an earlier meeting with the superior traditional authority in the region to allow a compromised person to contest unopposed.

They both pledged to support the candidature of the Amakomhene even before he put himself up for the position. 

Keeping to their promise, Abraham Boadi nominated the Amakomhene and was seconded by Michael Adusei Bonsu.  

The129 members were to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to approve or reject the sole contender. After the voting which was supervised by officials from the Electoral Commission, Nana Adu Mensah Asare had 100 of the votes, 22 against with one rejected. 

In his acceptance remarks, the Presiding Member called for an end to any factionalism among the Assembly Members and asked them to offer him their maximum support and cooperation while prioritising the socio-economic development of Kumasi.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon, reminded the Assembly Members of  the task ahead of them.

GBC