The Asante Akyem central municipal in the Ashanti region on Monday 12th February 2024 witnessed a very colourful and successful ceremony at the forecourt of the municipal assembly during when a total of 38 elected assembly members and government appointees were sworn in by Her Worship madam Grace Osei, the Asante Akyem district court magistrate to inaugurate them into the 9th assembly.
The colourful event brought together all departmental heads of the Asante Akyem central municipal assembly, heads of traditional authorities, the clergy and the general public.
In attendance were the municipal chief executive for Asante Akyem central, Hon Robert Yaw Kwakye, the Member of Parliament, Hon Kwame Anyimadu Antwi who is also a board member of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and also Professor Nicholas Awotwi, the Director of the institute of local government studies who represented the President for the inaugural ceremony was also present.
The municipal chief executive for the Asante Akyem central, Hon Robert Yaw Kwakye, in his welcome address commended the elected assembly members for their hard work and the trust the electorates repost in them in giving them the mandate to represent them in the municipal assembly to add their voices in championing for development in their respective electoral areas.
He also lauded the assembly members and reaffirm their commitment to serve in the best interest of the Asante Akyem central municipality and its citizenry.
Hon Robert Yaw Kwakye hinted that local assembly governance through the unit committee and the zonal councils plays a very pivotal role in development.
Hon Yaw Kwakye further disclosed that the foundation of the local governance rest on the principles and accessibility, transparency and collaboration which he believes each of the elected assembly members shares same view.
He noted that enactment of by-laws, budgeting and financial management and provision of basic infrastructural development is very necessary for every assembly.
Hon Robert Yaw Kwakye hinted further that the Asante Akyem central municipal assembly has succeeded in the construction of classroom blocks other educational infrastructure, provision of health facilities, improved access of portable water, market infrastructure and reshaping of spot improvement of roads amongst others.
He urged the elected assembly members, government appointees as well as the unit committee members not to relent in their effort in serving their electorates even though there could be difficult challenges ahead.
In his inaugural address, the Director of the institute of local government studies, Professor Nicholas Awotwi commended the elected assembly members and the unit committee members for their hard work that paved the way for them to be elected to serve their people in their various respective jurisdictions.
Prof. Awotwi underscored the importance of the role of an elected assembly member to the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to collaborate effectively with the traditional authorities and other stakeholders to help foster development for the good people who mandated them to be elected.