Francis Albert Nyonyo
A 50-year-old tycoon, Francis Albert Nyonyo, has been elected to represent the Volta Region on the Council of State.
Mr. Nyoyno, who is widely known as Nyoyno Agboada due to his link with the Anlo chieftaincy dispute, earned the name “highest bidder” at the venue of the election on Thursday.
Some delegates, candidates and other observers started calling him ‘highest bidder’ after he was declared winner at the venue.
He polled 29 votes out of the 50 votes cast by delegates from the 25 districts in the region to beat 19 contestants, with his closest challenger, Togbe Gbogbolulu V, Paramount Chief of Vakpo Traditional Area, polling eight votes.
One of the candidates, Sewura Kofi Isaac, withdrew from the race and rallied behind Albert Nyonyo.
There was commotion at the forecourt and the conference room of the Volta Regional Electoral Commission (EC) office prior to the election, as most of the delegates were nowhere to be found, thereby delaying the election process for some hours.
Checks by DAILY GUIDE revealed that some of the delegates allegedly received monies ranging from GH¢500 to GH¢2000.
Some of the delegates, who spoke to the paper, bemoaned the alleged monetary inducement and added that some of their colleagues were put in hotels and other locations by some candidates who later gave them money.
This caused a stir in the conference room of the Electoral Commission where the election was held.
Many people questioned the credibility of the candidates who allegedly compromised the delegates.
Togbe Katamanto Fitih condemned the bribery and vote-buying allegations, and urged the delegates not to sell their conscience, insisting that the Council of State is not a place for jokes and nobody should be allowed to buy his way out.
Addressing the press, Mr. Nyonyo, who is an oil and gas consultant and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fraga Oil, said he was humbled by the outcome of the election and thanked the delegates for imposing confidence in him.
He appealed to the other candidates who lost to join hands with him to ensure the socio-economic development of the region.
Mr. Nyonyo pledged to advise the president to ensure the effective development of the region and country at large.
Some of the candidates, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, expressed mixed feelings about Mr. Nyonyo’s victory, but hoped that he would be able to perform his duties effectively.
Gibril Abdul Razak and Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)