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Until his appointment by President John Evans Atta Mills, and subsequent confirmation by the Assembly, Akpalu was the Head of Mechanical Department of the Koforidua Polytechnic.
The former student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with a master’s in Industrial Relations, garnered 73 votes with 10 against, out of the total 83 to be confirmed as the next MCE of the area, after his predecessor, Mr. Seth Okyere, was given the sack some six months ago.
The West Akim Municipality was among the Afram Plains, Akuapem South, Birim North and Kwabibirem in the Eastern Region, where metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) were given the sack by their appointee, President John Evans Atta Mills.
The short, but impressive ceremony was colourfully attended by members of parliament (MPs) from the political divide, traditional authorities, past and present municipal and district chief executives, friends and relatives.
Prior to the vote, which was supervised by Mr. Paul Boateng, Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, the Eastern Regional Minister, Akwasi Akyem Appea-Kubi, appealed to the House to vote massively for the President’s nominee.
According to him, it was unfortunate that for the past six months the activities of the Assembly had virtually come to a standstill, following the lack of a substantive MCE to steer the affairs, hence it would be prudent if the House confirmed the nominee.
Educating the house on the Local Government Act, he said section 243 paragraph one of the 1992 Constitution mandates the President to appoint somebody, in line with the local government act 462, to steer the affairs of the Assembly.
In his acceptance speech, the new MCE gave assurance of his readiness to put his rich experience at the disposal of the Assembly, in order to bring accelerated development to the people of the area.
He thanked the President and assembly members for the confidence reposed in him, and promised to justify it through diligent work.
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