The Ashanti Regional Police Command has deployed personnel to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Hall in Kumasi to forestall any riots as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) attempts for the sixth time to elect a Presiding Member (PM).
Members are optimistic that a PM will be elected today, 4 October, after five failed attempts which were marred by free-for-all fisticuffs.
Over 10 law enforcement officers have been stationed at the venue with about 15 KMA city guards supporting them to ensure a peaceful election, Class FM’s Ashanti Regional correspondent, Hafiz Tijani, indicated.
Also, movement of media personnel has been restricted and all journalists without identification have been kept out of the auditorium where the election is to be held. Members of the public are also not allowed access to the venue.
The Assembly postponed the last election to today to give the assembly members ample time to make further consultations.
The Assembly has been split as supporters of the candidates have taken entrenched positions to ensure their preferred candidate got elected.
In the five elections conducted so far, none of the candidates could garner the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority of votes cast.
In their last attempt to elect a Presiding Member on Tuesday September 27, Adumhene, Nana Baffour Adjei Kesse, stepped down to allow Nana Kofi Senya to contest the slot as an unopposed candidate but he failed to get the needed number of votes.
Fresh nominations were opened. The three new contenders are Abraham Boadi, Assembly Member for Ridge-Nhyiaeso Electoral Area; Obeng Poku, Assembly Member for Bremang Central Electoral Area; and Adusei Bonsu Michael, Assembly Member for Asafo Dadieso Aba Electoral Area.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
