The Achimota Zonal Council in the Okaikwei North Municipality of the Greater Accra Region has elected Honourable James Akogo, the Assemblyman for Abofu Electoral Area as its new Chairman.
Hon. Akogo succeeds Hon. Gyebi Ababio, the Assemblyman for Achimota, whose tenure has ended. In a near-unanimous show of support, Hon. Akogo secured 14 out of the 15 valid votes cast, with no rejected ballots.
In his acceptance speech, Hon. Akogo pledged to work tirelessly to build a more responsive and inclusive Council, grounded in grassroots participation.
“My election to this office is the beginning of my ultimate call to serve the Assembly even better than we have done in the past. It’s an opportunity for a higher call to duty,” he stated.
He assured members and stakeholders of his full commitment to the progress of the Council, the Municipality, and Ghana as a whole.
“I will do my very best for the Council and never relent in the interest of the Assembly. I urge all staff to work together so we can achieve the vision we have set for ourselves,” Hon. Akogo added.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Okaikwei North, Hon. Christian Tetteh Badger, described the election as a historic moment for his administration and a significant step in advancing the decentralization agenda.
“This marks a deepening of democracy. The vision of former President Jerry John President Rawlings was for Governance to reach the doorstep of every Ghanaian where the people within the localities priotize their needs and incorporate in the plans of the Assembly . Today, we see that dream taking shape,” the MCE said.
He emphasized that the Zonal Council structure is a constitutional requirement that must be upheld with integrity, cautioning against corruption and abuse of office.
“The Zonal Council is not a platform to harass citizens or enrich oneself. It is a platform to serve the people. Assembly Members and Unit Committee Members must collaborate, not compete,” he advised.
The Presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dzadey, also urged the newly constituted Council to work closely with the MCE and remain accountable to the people.
“This Council is part of the Assembly, and your activities will be monitored. Support the MCE and focus on delivering results,” he said.
Mr. Francis Mensah the Municipal Coordinating Director stated that the formation of the new Zonal Council follows the rotationary and yearly Zonal Council elections which was first held in May last year, paving the way for membership of unit committee representatives to ensure strengthening participatory democracy.
Hon. Akogo is currently the Chief Whip of the Okaikwei North General Assembly, the Chairman of the Development Planning Sub-Committee and a former Assembly Member of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
In 2015 Hon. Akogo was adjudged the over all best Metropolitan Assembly Member at the 2015 Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Awards.
Source: onma.gov.gh
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson, AD IIB
