OPPONG-ABABIO CONFIRMED AS MCE (PAGE 17)

A 54-year-old Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr Kwasi Oppong-Ababio, has been confirmed by members of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly (SMA) as the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area.
He polled 25 out of the 27 total votes cast .
Mr Oppong Ababio’s overwhelming endorsement at the election, conducted by the Municipal Office of the Electoral Commission (EC), countered the widespread speculation that he would be rejected by the assembly members.
His supporters, mostly from Abesim, near Sunyani, his native town went into wild jubilation when the results was announced and he was smeared with talcum powder after a large white cloth was thrown around his neck.
The function was also observed by a team of Canadian visitors who were in the municipality to strengthen the sister-relationship existing between the Sunyani municipality and Canada.
In a brief remark, Mr Oppong- Ababio expressed his deepest thanks to President J. E. A. Mills for nominating him and the assembly members for their support of making him the MCE.
He promised to operate an open-door administration devoid of discrimination for the effective development of the municipality.
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, reminded the assembly members of the non-partisan concept of the assembly and expressed the hope that, such a constitutional provision should be the guide to all stakeholders.
He also observed that, the MCE and the Presiding Member (PM) had their complementary roles to play in the running of the assembly and urged the two to stick to their defined duties for the betterment of the municipality.
Earlier, the assembly had elected a 55-year-old Sunyani-based Legal practitioner Mr Kwadwo Ottu-Essel, who was also the chairman of the Sunyani Public Tribunal as the Presiding Member.
The Supervising High Court Judge for Sunyani, Mr Francis Kwabena Opoku, swore the two into office and congratulated them saying that, “I am happy that one of my colleagues has been elected as the PM”, in the case of Mr. Ottu-Essel.