Nine persons are vying to become the next Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asante-Akim South as President John Dramani Mahama intensifies efforts to put together his government.
Following the revoking of the appointment of all former MCEs under former President Akufo-Addo’s government by President Mahama, various actors in the ruling party including some constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have submitted their applications for the vacant position.
Among the executives seeking to lead the Municipal Assembly are Mr. Frank Antwi, Chairman, Mr. Akwasi Amponsah Akosah, Secretary, and Mr. Seth Asare Kumi, the Organizer.
Also in the race is Maame Sarfoah Appiah, the 2024 parliamentary candidate for the NDC, who is tipped by many as the frontrunner, having represented the party in the parliamentary race for two consecutive times. Other contestants are from varied professional backgrounds who contributed to the party’s landslide victory in the 2024 general elections. Interestingly, Maame Sarfoah is the only female aspirant among the lot, a development which brings to fore the perennial low participation of women in decision-making.
As to whether the gender equality equilibrium would play to her advantage in the keenly contested race, or not, that remained to be seen after the final nomination by the President. Beyond the gender card, which seems to favor her, Maame Sarfoah has significantly increased the NDC’s parliamentary votes in the last two elections, cutting down a 16,000 gap in 2016 to 3,000 in 2024.
It is against this background that some party faithful, believe she could snatch the seat in 2028 if she becomes the MCE, which would put her in the position to implement the development agenda of the municipality. Her contenders who have also played diverse roles in sustaining the party in opposition for the last eight years, also believe they deserve to be rewarded for their contributions to the party over the years.
Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicates that the aspirants have intensified lobbying from the corridors of power in their quest to beat each other to the highest office in the municipality. As they strive to catch the eye of the powers that be, the fact remains that the nomination of a candidate for the consideration of the Assembly is a sole prerogative of the President.
Source: GNA
