Obuasi, May 4, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, has said Obuasi deserves a better infrastructure because it is the seat of the country's biggest gold mine. "Obuasi has the biggest gold mine in the country and therefore needs good roads, water and other infrastructure," he said. The Regional Minister was addressing the Obuasi Municipal Assembly at a meeting to elect a Presiding member (PM) and to confirm the President's nominee for the position of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on Saturday.

Mr John Alexander Ackon, a former senior staff of AngloGold Ashanti, secured 36 votes as against six to secure his endorsement by the assembly.

The election of the PM took the assembly deep into the night as four rounds of voting ended with Mr J.F.K. Addai and Mr Benjamin Annan failing to secure the two-thirds of the 42 total votes cast. Mr Addai, a Safety Engineer (Surface) of AngloGold, eventually won the PM with 36 votes after Mr Annan had stepped down.

The Regional Minister said the required development of Obuasi could be manifested through an effective collaboration between all the development players and the solid support to the MCE. Mr Opoku Manu said even though the municipality was fast improving in the areas of infrastructure yet much was left to be done to befit its municipal status.

Mr Ackon expressed appreciation to the assembly members and the entire municipality for their support and expressed the hope that such solidarity would be accorded him during his tenure of office.