Regional News of Thursday, 14 May 2009

Source: GNA

Rescind decision on mass swearing-in of DCEs - DEC elect

Saltpond, May 14, GNA - The Mfantseman Municipal Assembly has appealed to government to rescind the decision to swear-in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives en bloc instead of before their respective assemblies' members.

Mr Francis Ejaaku Donkoh, Assembly member for Nkubem electoral area of Saltpond, who made the appeal on behalf of the assembly, said as tradition demands, a chief must swear before his subjects for the sake of accountability.

He made the appeal at an emergency meeting at Saltpond to confirm Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, President John Evans Atta Mills' nominee for the post of District Chief Executive for the assembly. He said the assemblies could not hold their chief executives accountable if they were not made to swear before them (assemblies). Mr Hayfron, a 43 year-old tutor at old OLA Training College polled 65 out of the 69 total votes cast to become the political head of the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly.

He thanked President Mills and members of the assembly for the confidence reposed in him and called for unity to move the municipality forward. Earlier Mr Kofi Aikins, a 53 year old court registrar was elected the presiding member of the assembly when Mr J.K. Arhin, his sole contestant stepped down.