Ajumako (C/R), Oct. 19, GNA - Five out of 21 women who contested the recent district level elections in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District (AEED) of the Central Region won their seats. In all 137 candidates vied for the 42 seats in the District Assembly.

Mr Kofi Assan of the Mando-Taaedo Electoral Area was the only candidate returned unopposed. By this feat Mr Assan becomes the longest serving assemblyman in the AEED having served two previous terms. Mr Assan, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said infrastructural and human resource training and development, water and sanitation, education, unity of purpose were his areas of concern. The District Electoral Officer, Mr Bawa Adamu in an interview with the GNA said voting in Obontser Electoral Area would be re-run due to the par votes (191) obtained by the top two contestants; Messrs Bosco De-Graft and Evans Kofi Abban.

Mr Adamu said only seven out of the former 42 assemblymen won their votes.

According to the Electoral Officer the overall turnout was 45 per cent, adding that Osedzi Electoral Area registered the most remarkable turnout of 79 per cent, while Ampia-Ajumako recorded the worst turnout of 18 per cent.

He further explained that out of 90 unit committees in the District only 31 contested the elections; a clear indication that the assemblymen and women elect would have more work to do. Mr Adamu expressed regret that Enyan Abassa with five unit committees registered no contestant.

He declared the exercise as smooth, orderly and peaceful and commended the District Security Committee under the chairmanship of the District Chief Executive, Mr Kenneth Obempong and the District Electoral staff and the voting public for the success of the exercise. Mr Adamu, however, remarked that there would be the need for a concerted effort at whipping up enthusiasm so that come 2010, " more interest would be shown in the district level elections. 19 Oct. 06