Assembly members in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region have unanimously confirmed Haruna Abdul Karim, as the new District Chief Executive (DCE), bringing to an end a six-month leadership vacuum that had left the district without a substantive head.
Celebrations broke out in Kpandai on Monday, June 24, as all 39 assembly members—comprising 27 elected representatives and 12 government appointees—voted in favour of Abdul Karim, securing a rare 100% endorsement.
Kpandai was one of two districts in the region that had been without a DCE since the beginning of the year. The prolonged absence of leadership had sparked growing tensions, particularly among the youth, who had been divided in their support for rival candidates. The nomination of Haruna Abdul Karim last week, a well-known youth leader and serving assemblyman, helped to calm nerves ahead of the vote.
In a bid to fully restore the administrative capacity of the district, the assembly also elected a new presiding member before confirming the DCE.
In his acceptance speech, Haruna Abdul Karim expressed heartfelt appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for the confidence reposed in him and thanked assembly members for their unanimous support.
“My administration will do everything possible to ensure the comfort and security of the people are guaranteed, to improve their socio-economic livelihood,” he stated.
The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf, who witnessed the confirmation, called for unity and cooperation among assembly members, urging them to rally behind the new DCE to drive development in the district.
He further assured that the regional administration would work closely with the new leadership to ensure Kpandai benefits from ongoing national development initiatives.