NEW PRESIDENT FOR BRONG AHAFO REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS (PAGE 21)

THE Omanhene of the Kukuom Traditional Area in the Asunafo South District in the Brong Ahafo Region, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, is the new President of the Regional House of Chiefs.
Osahene Aterkyi defeated the incumbent President, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, by 23 votes to four in an election conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) at the third meeting of the house this year in Sunyani on Wednesday.
Osahene Aterkyi also beat Nana Kwame Korang, the former Vice-President of the house, who is also the Omanhene of the Odumase Traditional Area, when he secured 10 votes in the poll, giving way to the Paramount Chief of Yeji Traditional Area, Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V.
Pemampem Kagbrese polled 29 votes to beat the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, who secured eight votes out of the total 37 ballots, to serve a four-year.
In another poll, three members of the house, namely, Nana Bofo Bene IV, Dwenimhene, who got 30 votes; Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem, Acherensuamanhene, 24 votes, and Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, who secured 22 ballots, were elected to join the president and his vice for the required five slots to represent the region at the National House of Chiefs.
Two other chiefs, Nana Ansah Adu Baah, Yamfomanhene, and Nana Yaw Agyei, the Paramount Chief of the Mim Traditional Area, who polled 18 and six votes, respectively, contested with the three but lost in their bid.
All the elected chiefs were sworn in by Mr Justice Emmanuel Ato Assan, a High Court judge in Sunyani, who administered the oath of office.
Before the elections, conducted by the Regional Director of the EC, Mr M.K. Anyimadu, and his deputy, Mr James Arthur-Yeboah, two newly installed paramount chiefs for Sankore and Nsawkaw, Okogyeadee Yaw Adusei II and Nana Kutu Ayim Baffour II, respectively, had been admitted to the house, after the outgoing President, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom, who is the Nkoranzamanhene, had administered the official oath.
They again swore the judicial oath and the oath of secrecy administered by Justice Assan.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, his deputy, Mr Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, as well as the heads of the security services in the region, witnessed the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech, Osahene Aterkyi expressed delight at his election, which was in accordance with Section 7 (1) of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759) and within the framework of Article 274 of the 1992 Constitution.
He was also grateful to God for ensuring a peaceful election and further thanked the entire membership of the house for the trust and confidence reposed in him, adding, “Once the election is over, the house must stand firm in unity and with a common destiny.”
Earlier in a welcoming address, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom had prayed that the election would be free and fair for the results to be accepted by all the contestants.
He stated that whoever won should see it as a duty to deal with the numerous challenges of chieftaincy in the region in particular and the nation as a whole.
Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom announced that the number of chieftaincy cases in the region that stood at 54 at the beginning of the year had reduced to 42 as of the end of September 2008 and expressed the hope that the number would further reduce by the close of the year.
The regional minister also expressed gratitude to the chiefs for the cordial relationship that had existed between the house and the Regional Co-ordinating Council.
He commended Nananom for attending all important functions organised in the region and adding colour to such functions by displaying their rich culture.