Dodowa, May 6, GNA - The President's nominee for Dangme West District Assembly, Mr Emmanuel A. O. Lartey, on Wednesday, failed to secure the two-thirds majority required to clinch the position as the district chief executive for the area. After the balloting supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) Mr Lartey, 66, a retired civil servant, who needed 36 votes, representing 66 per cent of the 52 members present to get the nod, secured 33 votes representing 63 per cent. He would be given a second chance after 10 days and if he fails to win the approval of the Assembly, the President would have to make fresh nomination. In a brief speech after the balloting, Nii Armah Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, urged the assembly members not to be deceived that rejecting the President's nominees for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive positions would make other people they favoured get the nod.

The minister expressed disappointment at the turn of events saying such actions would not make the districts develop. He said the perception that rejecting a nominee would lead to the nomination of the next person short-listed at the interview was misleading. Mr Ashitey said competent persons had scrutinized the nominees and taken into consideration all the concerns of the people. Therefore it was only prudent for the assemblies to endorse them without any objection whatsoever. Mr Lartey said all was not lost since he was not rejected outright, adding that, he would do his homework well to ensure his endorsement in the second round. 6 May 09