Bolgatanga Oct. 18 GNA - The Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly on Friday elected Madam Agnes Atayila, a Senior Nutrition Officer, as Presiding Member.

Madam Atayilla polled 28 votes as against Mr. Joseph Amiyuure, an Agricultural Officer, who had six votes in a second balloting, as none could make the two-thirds majority in the first round of voting. In the first round of voting, Madam Atayilla polled 19 votes, while Mr Amiyuure had 17 votes, which did not satisfy the two-thirds majority requirement as the House has 44 eligible voters.

However, Mr Amiyuure offered to step down in order to forestall repeated voting and encourage unity in the assembly.

Madam Atayilla, in her acceptance speech thanked the Assembly for understanding the situation and placing their confidence in her, she called for their cooperation and support to enable the Assembly to carry out its responsibilities.

Mr Salifu Mahami, Upper East Regional Minister, urged the Assembly to step up its efforts of collecting revenue from taxes, fees and licences as it was not good enough to rely on donors to provide the basic needs of the people.

He condemned corruption in District and Municipal Assemblies and said it must be fought at every stage of the democratic process. He advised the members to conduct themselves properly and work hard to bring change to the society, as the people were anxious to see improvement in their living conditions.

He expressed concern at the deplorable state of some communities in the area and appealed to the Assembly to focus on sanitation and basic hygiene.

A Circuit Court Judge, Mr Imoro Ziblim swore Madam Atayilla into office.

The Elections were conducted by the Municipal Electoral Commission lead by Mr Kassim Kaaka.