DCES FIR AKYEMMANSA, BIRIM SOUTH CONFIRMED (PAGE 15)

THE President’s nominees for the position of District Chief Executive (DCEs) for Akyemmansa, Mr Tom Budu and that of Birim South, Nana Baffour Mensah Takyi, were overwhelmingly endorsed by their respective assembly members at separate functions at Akyem Ofoase and Akyem Swedru last Monday.
All the 31 members of the Akyemmansa District Assembly voted yes to unanimously approve of Mr Budu’s nomination while the 32-member Birim South District Assembly also gave Baffour Takyi 100 per cent votes in the election conducted by the Electoral Commission.
The well-attended ceremonies attracted a member of the Council of State, Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu II, traditional and religious leaders as well as members of both sides of the politicl divide including the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for the area, Mr David Oppong-Kusi, for Akyemmansa and Mr Joseph Ampomah Bosompem, both of whom belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The two MPs were instrumental in the unanimous endorsement of the two DCEs as they impressed upon the assembly members to confirm their appointments because they were affable, humble and hardworking and were prepared to co-operate with all and sundry to push the young districts forward.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Budu, a graduate teacher at Jaha near Akyem Abenase, thanked President J.E.A. Mills for nominating him to the high office, and the assembly members for confirming his nomination.
He stressed that with the support of the assembly members, the core staff of the assembly, the chiefs and people in the district, he would live up to expectation.
Mr Budu stressed that his major pre-occupation was to fight poverty, ignorance, disease and ignorance, adding that he would promote health and quality education.
For his part, Baffour Takyi, who is the Nkosuohene of Akyem Achiase, was also grateful and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members for his nomination and the assembly members for endorsing his appointment.
He said the young district that lacked a lot of infrastructure and basic social amenities, needed the unity and support of all the people in the area to overcome the challenges.
Baffour Takyi, therefore, entreated the people in the district to pull all their expertise and rich experience together to fashion out effective policies and programmes in order to meet the desirable development aspirations of the district to ensure its rapid development.
He seized the opportunity to commend his predecessor, Mr Samuel Antwi-Berko for the wonderful work he did in spite of his short term in office.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, who graced the two functions, commended the assembly members for endorsing the two nominees.
He advised the new DCEs not to be swollen-headed or self-conceited by their appointments since such high positions went with great responsibilities.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo enjoined them to be prepared to serve the masses at all times but should not lord it over them.
He assured the two young district assemblies of his maximum support but cautioned the people not to undermine the new DCEs since that would hinder the progress of the area.