The RACE for selection and appointment as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for the fourteen Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Western Region has begun with key three personalities slugging it out for the SekondiTakorad Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) seat.
Though, the STMA race has nine NDC stalwarts putting forward their names for the position and same vetted, it is believed the race is between three of the applicants.
The nine applicants are:
Frederck Faustinos Faidoo, the 2024 Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC in Takoradi, who lost the Parliamentary seat by less than 1000 votes; Victor Henry Abbey-Hart, a two time former Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado Ketan and Kwesi Addey-Blankson, a known and former Chairman of Communication for the NDC.
The rest are Ebenezer Tetteh Azu, Sumalla Mohammed,Horatius Cobbinah, Rashid Adamah and Armah Nyamekeh.
A five member panel has consequently kick-started the process to vet the applicants who have put forward their names for consideration, to serve as MMDCEs in the region.
The 5 Member panel is chaired by Nana Kojo Toku, regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress and has other members like former DCE for Ellembelle, Daniel Eshun, Joseph Nelson, Regional Secretary and the Regional Minister designate for Western region, Papa Asan, a former public servant and other two members.
Speaking to the media, Joseph Nelson indicated that the committee has activated the process to select MMDCE nominees for the 14 MMDA’s in the region.
The mandate of the committee, he said, was to interview the applicants and shortlist three people for the president to decide which of them merits appointment as MMDCE.
He said for now, Amenfi East, Amenfi Central and Amenfi West have been catered for by way of interviewing the applicants.
He added that no hindrance was put in the way of the applicants for consideration for the position and that they would be fair to all of them.
Given the overwhelming number of the applicants, it is expected that the committee would take more than a week to vet them.
This paper can report that, a total of 130 people have put forward their names for consideration to be vetted and eventually appointed as MMDCE.
Jomoro District recorded the highest number of applicants putting forward their names for consideration as MMDCE. A total of 14 applicants have applied for the position. Mpohor District follows next with 11 persons applying.
Effia-Kwesiminstim Municipal, Shama District, Amenfi East and Amenfi Central, Ahanta West Municipal and Tarkwa follow respectively, as Districts with third highest applications.
In the Ahanta West Municipal for instance, Ebenezer Essien, a former Assembly Member for Aboade and former Finance Committee Chairman of the Assembly is the surest bet for consideration as MCE for the Municipal.
However, he would have to slug it out with nine other applicants, especially Engineer Ebenezer Aidoo for the Municipal seat.
In Prestea Hunni-Valley, the Constituency Secretary, Matthew Ayeh was the only person who put forward his name for the consideration for the position.
In the Efia-Kwesimintsim Municipal (EKMA), it a straight fight between Michael Otoo, a two time former PC for Effia-Kwesimintsim, Musah Adamu, a Teacher and Assembly Member, Abdul Majeed Iddrisu, the 2024 PC for Effia who lost his seat by less than 500 votes difference.
Meanwhile, party executives in Mpohor convened a meeting with the applicants for the DCE position at the party office last Sunday.
In a statement signed by the party communication officer, Alexander Ofori, he reminded the applicants that only one person would be selected after the vetting process has been exhausted.
As a result, the applicants must accept the outcome and not incite their supporters against each other. That aside, the statement cautioned the successful candidate to work in the interest of the party and Mother Ghana.
