The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) with 78 members has re-elected Mr Mohammed Ali as its Presiding Member.

Mr Ali, Assemblyman for Effiakuma Zongo was re-elected in the third round of voting after his opponent Mr Peter Kojo Baidoo, Government Appointee, stepped down.

Out of the 67 members who cast their votes, 52 voted in his favour while three of the votes were rejected.

Madam Mercy Quashie, Assemblywoman for the Takoradi Presbyterian Electoral Area, stepped down before the first round of polling.

Neither Mr Ali nor Mr Baidoo was able to secure two thirds of votes to emerge as clear winner in the first and second rounds of polling.

In the first round, 41 out of 71 members of the assembly voted for Mr Ali and 29 for Mr Baidoo. In the second round, Mr Ali polled 44 votes and Mr Baidoo, 26 votes. In acceptance speech, Mr Ali called on members to bury their differences and unite for the sake of the rapid development of the metropolis.

He said the election must be seen as a healthy competition in which all contestants are winners. Captain Anthony Cudjoe (rtd), Metropolitan Chief Executive, swore in Mr Ali.