The Amansie South District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has been unable to elect a Presiding Member after two rounds of voting ended without a decisive outcome, raising concerns over possible disruptions to governance and development activities in the district.
The election took place at the District Assembly Auditorium in Manso Adubia, bringing together assembly members, traditional leaders, Electoral Commission officials, staff, and members of the media. The process was supervised by Electoral Commission officer Eric Anane, with support from Awudu Yahaya.
Ahead of the voting, the outgoing Presiding Member, Hon. Samuel Amponsah, also known as “Home Boy,” urged members to secure a clear winner in a single round to avoid delays. However, his appeal did not yield the expected result.
Two candidates contested the position: Hon. Augustine Fosu Asamoah, Assembly Member for the Apɛnamadi Electoral Area, and Edward Amo, Assembly Member for the Abiram Electoral Area.
In the first round, Augustine Fosu Asamoah secured 19 votes, while Edward Amo polled 18 votes out of 40 expected ballots. With two members absent, neither candidate achieved the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
The second round produced an identical result, with both candidates maintaining their previous vote counts, leading to another stalemate.
Following the deadlock, the Electoral Commission rescheduled the election for ten days later, in line with established procedures.
Reacting to the outcome, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Marfo, acknowledged the setback but noted that such situations are not uncommon. He referenced a similar incident in the nearby Manso Nkwanta District, where a Presiding Member was eventually elected after initial delays.
He stressed the importance of the role, warning that the absence of a Presiding Member could hinder the Assembly’s operations.
“An Assembly without a Presiding Member cannot effectively function. If this situation persists, it will affect meetings, financial decisions, time management, and ultimately the district’s development,” he stated.
Despite the impasse, Hon. Marfo expressed confidence that consensus would be reached at the next sitting.
Some assembly members and the candidates also described the outcome as unfortunate but expressed optimism, pledging to engage their colleagues to ensure a successful election in the next round.
The Assembly now awaits the rescheduled vote, with hopes of breaking the deadlock and restoring full administrative functionality.
Story by: Afia Nhyira (0247220948) | Follow our social media handles @uktvghana | DM us for Ads on our website or any of our socials
