By Razak Baba & Bernard Opoku Nti
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has for the first time in recent years elected a Presiding Member after voting once in the process. The Assembly Member for Krofuom East, Patrick Kwame Frimpong claimed 40 votes, while his main contender, incumbent Presiding Member and Assembly Member for Amakom, Stephen Ofori polled 16 votes.
Razak Baba and Bernard Opoku Nti report that the election of the Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly was supervised by the Electoral Commission. Of the 60-member Assembly, 56 were present to cast their ballot, with three members absent and one Assembly Member who had passed on.
Contenders for the position were the incumbent Presiding Member and Assembly Member for Amakom, Stephen Ofori, and Assembly Member for Krofuom East, Patrick Kwame Frimpong. After the first round of voting, Assembly Member for Krofuom East, Patrick Kwame Frimpong secured 40 votes against incumbent Presiding Member, Stephen Ofori who polled 16 votes, with one rejected ballot. Mr. Frimpong fell short of the required 44 votes to clinch the position and the process had to go for the second round.
The incumbent Presiding Member, Stephen Ofori however threw in the towel, paving the way for the Assembly to unanimously confirm Assembly Member for Krofuom East, Patrick Kwame Frimpong as the new Presiding Member of the KMA.
He was then sworn into office by the Kumasi Supervising High Court, Justice Kofi Akrowiah.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Frimpong said he will seek the welfare of the Assembly Members.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive, Mr. Sam Pyne repeated his resolve to collaborate with the Members to make Kumasi a viable city of opportunities.
