President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the chief executive position of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Kobina Kurentsir Sam (popularly called K. K. Sam) has been confirmed by members of the assembly.
They voted overwhelmingly to confirm Mr Sam as the new Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE). Seventy members, out of the 71 present voted ‘Yes’ in confirmation of the nominee. One vote was rejected.
Friday’s voting was supervised by Stephen Opoku Mensah, the Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Addressing the members after his confirmation, Mr Sam, a former Western Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), said he was grateful to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his nomination.
He also expressed gratitude to the assembly members for the confidence reposed in him and promised to work with all of them to accelerate the development of the metropolis.
He noted that his massive endorsement was a victory for the assembly as a united front and also recognition of the challenges ahead of them.
He stressed that the president and the government of the NPP would implement all the promises made to better the lives of Ghanaians.
“My number one job in this position therefore is to see to the implementation of the policies relevant to this metropolis,” he disclosed.
Mr K. K. Sam continued, “I am also familiar with what confronts us as a people, and stifles our efforts at fulfilling our destiny as a great city.
“We still face challenges with waste management and sanitation, poor road network in some parts of our metropolis and drainage problems among others.
“We have issues with security as well because most of the street lights in the city do not function properly. Unfortunately, these are systematic problems which did not develop overnight. It will therefore require some time and resources to deal with them comprehensively,” he added.
He indicated that in the short term, he would lead the residents in the metropolis and the security services in a massive clean-up exercise on Saturday, April 4, 2017, and pleaded with the people to come out in their numbers on the day to help clean the city.
“We will also as a matter of urgency, seek funding to repair damaged street lights to ensure people’s safety at night,” he told the assembly members.
The Presiding Member (PM) of STMA, John Davis, gave the assurance that the assembly members would rally behind the newly-endorsed MCE to execute his vision for the metropolis.
The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, cautioned the MCE against partisanship in his administration. He urged the newly elected MCE to respect members of the assembly and everyone he would be working with.
“The number that voted for you indicated that the assembly members are ready to work with you so be reminded that they can make and unmake you,” Dr Afriyie advised.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi