Twenty-three out of 31 assembly members have finally voted YES to endorse the President’s nominee, Michael Amoah Awuku , as the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).
This was after the assembly members had earlier voted and the nominee failed to get the two-thirds majority of the votes cast.
Background
On Friday, September 24, 2021, Amoah Awuku failed to secure two-thirds majority of the 31 total valid votes cast when only 19 of them voted YES, and 12 voted NO, with no rejected ballot.
That move forced the assembly to prepare for a second round of election within a period of 10 days. But the election was held ahead of the date – October 1, 2021 – due to an intended visit of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the Ashanti Region.
He became one of the few nominees to have been rejected by their assembly members across the country.
Amoah Awuku sails through
But on Friday, October 1, he was able to secure two-thirds majority of the total valid votes cast.
The 23 YES represented 74.19 per cent and the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Electoral Officer, declared him duly endorsed.
Why they initially rejected him
It would be recalled that, before the appointment of the MMDCEs, some Chiefs and people in the municipality urged President Akufo-Addo not to reappoint him citing instances including his disrespect to traditional authorities and failure to consult them as development partners.
Series of demonstrations and press conferences were organized by the chiefs and the people to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to remove Michal Amoah Awuku from office and appoint a new person to lead the municipality.