Members of the LadMA Assembly reject the MCE nominee and demand Akrong

There was drama at the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (Ladma) in Accra last Tuesday following the rejection of the President’s nominee for Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alfredos Nii Anyetei, amid general sentiments among assembly members that long-serving party stalwart and current Chief Whip of the assembly, Aaron Akrong, should be the right man for the top role.

Nine of the 14 Ladma assembly members who voted in favor of Mr. Anyetei’s confirmation voted against it, and only five voted “Yes.” As a result, Mr. Anyetei did not receive the necessary 2/3 majority of votes to be confirmed as MCE, and the assembly declined to grant him the support he needed.

Both the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, and the local MP, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who also serves as the Deputy Minister of Local Government, supported the nominee and attended the event. They both expressed astonishment at the outcome.

After President John Dramani Mahama nominated individuals to lead the 29 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region last month, Mr. Anyetei asked his assembly members to confirm him, but they did not. Since he did not receive even the 50% required for a mandatory re-vote, the President is unable to nominate him again and must designate someone else.

Preference and rejection

The crowd of NDC supporters and assembly members were in agreement that Aaron Akrong, who they lovingly call Ice Tee, should be appointed MCE for La Dade Kotopon. They claimed that Aaron had been in the assembly for almost 20 years and had played a key role in the party’s victory in the most recent general election. “Aaron has been an assembly member for more than 15 years, has been the chief whip for the assembly for more than 12 years, and knows all the dynamics of the assembly,” they said. The announcement of the voting results was greeted with applause as party supporters and community members chanted revolutionary songs in support of the verdict.

One of the NDC demonstrators told the Daily Graphic, “He is very experienced and well placed to take the mantle, apart from being our own.” “This is the gentleman who worked tirelessly to bring the party to power, aside from all these credentials. Why do we have to treat him like that?” another said. “He has dedicated his whole life to the party and constituency; he deserves to be rewarded.” Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Regional Minister expressed disappointment in the assembly members for not approving the nominee, saying that it is a major setback for President Mahama, who now faces a difficult decision on who to nominate as MCE for La Dade Kotopon.”

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