All the 37 members of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly in the Western Region voted to confirm the President’s nominee, Mr Frank Okpenyen as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) during a meeting on Tuesday at Axim.
Before the election, supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC), the Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, pleaded with the members to give Mr Okpenyen a 100 per cent vote as an honour to the President.
The endorsement was also preceded with some lobbying and consultations among the elected members of the assembly on one side and their collegues government appointees on the other.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira constituency, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, also appealed to members to confirm Mr Okpenyen, whom she described as a hardworking member of the assembly.
Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, the Omanhene of Nsein Traditional Area, who also graced the occasion together with other traditional authorities, noted that the development of the municipality could not be achieved without an MCE and, therefore, added his voice to the need for the assembly members to give an overwhelming confirmation.
Jubilation
The assembly hall was thrown into wild jubilation and ecstasy after the Deputy Regional Director of the EC, Mr Godwin Okley, announced the results of the ballot.
Dr Afriyie, who swore the new MCE into office, and Awulae Agyefi Kwame took turns to express their gratitude and appreciation to the members for showing respect and acceding to their plea while Mrs Afeku and the MCE danced to show their delight.
Mr Okpenyen in his acceptance speech promised that with the support of the MP, Nananom and the assembly members, every community would enjoy electricity supply, potable water, good sanitation facilities, quality education and health delivery services.
He observed that the municipality had a rich history and culture which needed to be preserved with massive assistance from the minister and the members of the assembly.
