Juaso (Ash), April 30, GNA - The President's nominees for the position of District and Municipal Chief Executives for Asante Akim South and North were on Wednesday confirmed by their respective assemblies at emergency meetings held at Juaso and Konongo, respectively. At Juaso, the President's nominee, Mr De-graft Forkuo secured the votes of all the 60 assembly members present, representing 100 per cent of the total votes cast. Mr. Forkuo,48, an Assistant Administrative Officer, at the Ofoase Senior High School, contested the last Parliamentary election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but lost to the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mrs. Gifty Ohene-Konadu. In his acceptance speech, the newly elected DCE pledged to work in collaboration with all stakeholders to hasten the pace of development in the district.

He assured the assembly members that there would be no room for partisanship in his administration, stressing that he would operate an open door policy to enable all citizens to have access to his office. Meanwhile, the nominee for Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly, Mr. Thomas Osei-Bonsu, managed to secure exactly two thirds of the votes to ensure his confirmation. He polled 37 out of 55 votes, representing 67.3 per cent to become the second Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) since the District was elevated to a Municipal status.

The announcement of the results by the Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Kofi Assuming, was greeted with spontaneous jubilation amid brass band music outside the Assembly Hall. Mr. Osei-Bonsu, an Assistant Headmaster of Collins Senior High School, at Agogo, also contested the 2008 Parliamentary election for the NDC. Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended the two assemblies for endorsing the nominees and called for collaborative efforts to accelerate development for the benefit of the people. 30 April 09