Tamale, July 30, GNA - About 119 candidates from 54 Electoral Areas within Tamale Metropolitan Area have filed their nominations to contest the September 12, Metropolitan, Municipal and District level elections. Out of the number 15 were women.

Mr. Nuhu Mahama, Tamale Metropolitan Electoral Officer told the GNA that Tamale Metropolitan Area and Yendi district would participate in the elections.

He said some members in both assemblies and the public were appealing to the Electoral Commission to enable them complete their four-year term.

Elections for Tamale Metropolitan and Yendi District Assemblies were delayed due to the State of Emergency imposed on the areas because of the Dagbon crisis.

Mr. Mahama was optimistic that the elections would be conducted peacefully and called on the electorate in those areas to comport themselves to maintain the peace.

Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, last Wednesday in Accra announced that all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana would cease to have force and effect as presently constituted by midnight September 4. He said he has, therefore, advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct District Level Elections on September 12, 2006. Mr Asamoah-Boateng in a statement directed that all Presiding Members were to ensure that final sessions or meetings of the Assemblies were convened to dissolve the assemblies before September 8, 2006. The Ministry would inaugurate the new Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies between September 25 and September 29 2006. He said the dissolution notice applied to all the corresponding sub-structures, notably the Sub-Metropolitan, District Councils, Town, Zonal, Urban and Area Councils and Unit Committees.