The South Tongu District Assembly (STDA) at Sogakope in the Volta Region has confirmed the President’s nominee for the position of District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area. The nominee, Mr. Innocent Tetteh polled fifty (50) out of the fifty-seven (57) votes to be confirmed to become the third DCE for the area in the almost eight (8) year rule of the governing Ne Patriotic Party (NPP).
The DCE confirmation event was attended by many dignitaries from far and near including chiefs and queenmothers from the various traditional areas of the district.
The government delegation to the event, representing the Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa was led by the Dean of DCEs in the region and DCE for Afadzato South, Hon. James Etornam Flolu who was very excited that the Assembly Members (AMs) had done the needful this time round. Other DCEs at the event were the DCEs for North Tongu, Hon. Divine Osborn Fenu, and his counterpart from Central Tongu, Hon. Thomas Moore Zonyrah.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Wisdom Kobena Mensah Woyome was also present at the event. In his address, he also renewed his appeal to the Assembly Members to confirm the President’s nominee.
The nominee, Mr. Innocent Tetteh polled fifty (50) ‘Yes’ votes representing 87.72 percent to be confirmed while seven (7) of the AMs dissented with ‘No’ votes to constitute 12.28 percent. The confirmation of the DCE was received with joy and satisfaction by all and sundry including the AMs who earlier rejected the nominee with thirty (30) ‘Yes’ and twenty-eight (28) ‘No’ votes approximately representing some fifty-one (51) and forty-nine (49) percent respectively.
The DCE was taken through the swearing-in process including the administration of the oaths of office, secrecy, and allegiance, supervised by the Dabala District Court Judge.
Before the Electoral Commission (EC) officials under its leader or District Officer, Mrs. Charlotte Koduah could formally announce the final result, the Assembly Hall began to witness some jubilation, apparently in response to the confirmation of the President’s nominee.
In his acceptance speech, the DCE thanked the AMs for the honour done him and pledged his commitment to ensuring that the South Tongu district gets a municipal status as expected by the chiefs and people. He was also grateful to the Regional Minister, his colleague MDCEs, the party in the district, his wife as well as all and sundry for their support and encouragement.
He pledged to work closely with the Assembly Members to ensure the overall development of the district.
The Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly and the Assembly Member for the Atravenu Electoral Area, Hon. Victoria Dzeklo was excited at the confirmation of the nominee, saying the battle had indeed come to an end. She was of the view that the development would pave the way not only for the continuation of the development efforts of the district but also enable the district to demand its fair share of the national cake.
Stalled development projects can also resume with the presence of the DCE if funds are available, the Hon. PM added.
Hon. Dzeklo commended the AMs for the honour done by the district and urged them to give further support to the new DCE to deliver the goods.
The Paramount Chief of the Tefle Traditional Area, Togbe Nakakpo Dugbazah VIII was equally happy about the turn of events and lauded the AMs for a well-thought-through decision. He reminded the DCE to be firm and fair to all persons coming his way.
According to him, he is in office to serve the people, reminding him of the adage that ‘the very people he would meet when climbing up are the same people he would come across when coming down’.
