Kumasi, May 23, GNA - Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister has, on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills administered the oath of office to 24 out of 27 Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives in the Ashanti Region.

The Chief Executives whose nominations had been endorsed by their respective District Assemblies were also handed their instruments of appointments, at an impressive ceremony in Kumasi on Friday. They included Mr. George Sarpong, Chief Executive for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and others from Mampong, Offinso North, Offinso South, Efigya Kwabre, Sekyere South, Sekyere North, Ejisu and Ahafo-Ano South and North as well as Amansie Central. Others are DCEs for Atwima Mponua, Amansie West, Bekwai Municipal, Obuasi, Sekyere Afram Plains, Adansi North, Kwabre East, Sekyere Central and Bosome-Freho.

In an address read on his behalf, President Mills charged the in-coming Chief Executives to work in the best interest of the people who first elected him as President to enable him to nominate them. He called on them to display transparency and accountability, whilst also guarding against all forms of corruption to justify the confidence the people reposed in them. President Mills further urged them to forge a cordial relationship with traditional rulers and also work in unison with assembly members to accelerate the pace of development in their respective areas. "You must respond to the needs of the people timeously whilst also adopting an open door policy to galvanise the support of the people for the party", he added.

Mr. George Sarpong, in a response to the President's speech on behalf of the Chief Executives out of which only two are women, pledged their unflinching commitment to serve the people at all times. The ceremony was well attended by National Democratic Congress (NDC) Regional Executives, party members, Regional Coordinating Directors, Presiding and Assembly Members as well as the family members and spouses of the sworn in Chief Executives. 23 May 09