Sekondi, Sept. 22 -GNA- The fourth meeting of the second session of the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) scheduled for today (Wednesday) was thrown into confusion for little over two hours following a misunderstanding between two groups of Assembly Members as to whether Wednesday's meeting was the second meeting of the second session or the first meeting of the third session.

While one group claimed that the tenure of office of the presiding member has expired and that today's meeting is the first meeting of the third session when the house has to elect a new presiding member, the other group maintained that although the presiding member's tenure of office has expired, no new presiding member could be elected since Wednesday's meeting is the fourth of the second session.

Despite educating members on the relevant portions of the standing orders of the assembly relating to the election of a presiding member, by the Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Mr. Clement Danduri, the two groups relentlessly clinched to their stands.

The second group argued that if a new presiding member were elected today for December 2004, his tenure of office would be shorter.

At this stage, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah putting his legal brains at the disposal of members, said the first meeting of the third session couldn't be held today so long as the fourth meeting of the second session has not been held.

At this stage, the presiding member, Mr. Edwin Philips whose tenure of office expired on September seven this year, appealed to members to rest the issue to enable the day's business to be carried out. The two groups finally agreed and the meeting proceeded amicably.