Wassa-Akropong (W/R), June 15, GNA - All the 28 members of the Wassa Amenfi East District Assembly present at a meeting at Wassa-Akropong on Monday endorsed the President's nominee, Ms Doris Gyapomaah Oduro, as the District Chief Executive. Wassa Amenfi East is one of the three new districts in the Western Region.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Regional Minister, told Ms Oduro that as the first DCE of a new and deprived district much would be expected of her and she should gird her loins to face the task ahead and also be a role model.

He appealed to assembly members, chiefs and other opinion leaders and the people to offer Ms Oduro, 55, an educationist, cooperation to enable her to deliver.

Mr Aidoo commended the chiefs and people of the area for the high display of unity and understanding especially during the search for a capital for the new district.

The Regional Minister, who had been acting as the DCE, said 3.8 billion cedis had been spent on a number of projects at Wassa-Akropong, the district capital.

These include potable water, renovation of old structures to serve as the assembly's secretariat and an assembly hall project that is ongoing.

Ms Oduro thanked the people for accepting her to lead them and said she would run and an open door administration. She said human resource development, women empowerment and children issues would be priority on her development agenda.

At Tarkwa 67 out of the 68 Assembly Members voted to endorse Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Ayensu as the DCE for Wassa West District. He expressed his gratitude to the members for giving him the nod and said he would work hard.

Mr Ayensu said he would work towards the achievement of a municipal status for Tarkwa and commended the mining companies operating in the area for their support to improve the lot of the people. He said he would forge closer collaboration with the chiefs of the area and ensure improved sanitation to enhance the health of the people. Mr Aidoo urged the assembly to explore other sources of revenue to accelerate the pace of development.

He expressed concern that the assembly has no efficient means of collecting basic rates and other tolls and said the trend must be reversed.

Mrs Gifty Kusi, Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem urged assembly members to do away with their political affiliations and work to develop the district.