The President’s nominee for the Nabdam District Chief (DCE) position, Agnes Anamoo, was sworn into office inside a car on Sunday.
The nominee took her first oath some weeks ago when assembly members acclaimed her by popular votes under the supervision of the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Regional Chairman, Lawyer Anthony Namoo.
A meeting was rescheduled last Sunday to do a proper confirmation exercise after it was realised that the assembly members should have voted to confirm the popular acclamation or otherwise. The meeting was scheduled to start at 11:00am but it was delayed up to 1:00pm because the Presiding Member, Sampana Zure Abass, was absent, stating that he was not informed about the exercise.
According to Presiding Member, he received a phone call from the Regional Minister in connection with this exercise on Sunday when most of the assmbly members had been informed about the meeting.
“I have not convened this meeting though the Regional Minister and I discussed this matter. I got calls from colleague assembly members asking me of this meeting when I have no knowledge of this meeting before 6pm yesterday. By then, honourable colleagues were aware. But when things happen this way, one is seen as difficult but sometimes we also want the right to be done. I still want to apologise to our Overlord, Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga II, the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Hon Mark Kurt Nawaane, the Regional Minister and colleague members,” the Presiding Member said.
The assembly members asked why the nominee was not present physically in the house for the confirmation
that was held on Sunday but the Regional Minister told them the nominee was sick and could not sit for the exercise.
However, about 18 assembly member were present to cast their votes by secret ballot. When voting was over, the results declared by the EC said 16 members voted yes representing about 89% while 2 voted no.
As soon the results were declared by Upper East Regional Electoral Commissioner, Mr Williams .O. Adarkwa, and the Regional Minister asked the assembly members to walk out of the assembly’s conference hall for the swearing-in of the DCE in her car at the forecourt of the Nabdam District Assembly’s block. After she had taken the oath, she was rushed to hospital.
Some Assembly members told Word News that she was traumatised because of the delay in confirming her after several calls to the Presiding Member to get him to preside over the confirmation meeting went unanswered.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya.