UGLY SCENES AT AGONA EAST...As members fail to approve nominee (PAGE 17)

There were ugly scenes on the premises of the Agona East District Assembly at Agona Nsaba after the assembly members had failed to approve the nomination of Mr Ernest Oresmus Arkoh as the district chief executive (DCE).
Mr Arkoh, who needed 19 votes to secure two-thirds of the votes cast, fell short of that by two votes but still has the opportunity for a second ballot within 10 days.
The premises went haywire as soon as the results were announced, with Mr Arkoh’s supporters calling for the blood of the assembly members.
Rumours had been rife that the assembly members had asked for GH¢700 from Mr Arkoh but he could offer GH¢500.
Not satisfied with the behaviour of the assembly members, a traditional ruler ordered them to appear before him at his palace the next day to explain their action.
While Mr Arkoh was pondering over his plight and the next line of action, his counterpart at Agona West, Mr Jacob Obeng Forson, was full of smiles when all the members who voted threw their weight behind him.
In a related development, the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Assembly has endorsed Mr Light Koomson as the DCE.
A report from J.K. Essien from Ajumako said Mr Koomsom, who is the Central Regional Secretary of the NDC, was finally confirmed by the assembly as the DCE after a second round of balloting.
Mr Koomsom, a Deputy Director of the GES and former District Cultural Officer for Ajumako, polled 48 votes, representing 84.2 per cent of the total votes of 57 cast, with nine against.
Speaking after his victory, the new DCE thanked the assembly members for voting massively for him, saying, “You are really the king makers.”
He reiterated his vision to give priority attention to the development of the district and promised to work together with all and sundry to accelerate development in the area.
The Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Albert Ato Quainoo, said Mr Koomsom’s endorsement had brought joy to the assembly and appealed to the assembly members to give him the needed co-operation and support.
For her part, the Central Regional Minister, Ms Ama Benyiwa Doe, expressed her gratitude to the members for confirming the President’s nominee.
She promised to assist the assembly to overcome its financial challenges, as well as ensure that funds received were judiciously managed to provide the needs of the people.