By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Lawra, (UW/R), May 8, GNA – The Lawra Municipal Assembly has retained Mr Justice Gaanu, the Assembly Member for the Tuori Electoral Area, as the Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly at its first ordinary meeting of the third session.
Mr Gaanu secured 37 “Yes” votes and four “No” votes with one rejected ballot to retain the position after his contender, Mr Clifford Maadi Bayuo, Assembly Member for the Dazuuri Electoral Area, withdrew from the contest after the first round of voting.
In the first round, none of the contestants secured the required two-thirds majority of at least 30 votes to be elected after Mr Gaanu obtained 27 votes while Mr Bayuo secured 14 votes with one rejected ballot.
The Lawra Municipal office of the Electoral Commission supervised the election, while His Honour Stanley Adjei, the Lawra Circuit Court Judge, administered the Oaths of Allegiance and Secrecy to the elected PM.
In his victory message, Mr Gaanu thanked members of the Assembly for renewing his mandate and expressed appreciation to Mr Bayuo for sacrificing his interest by withdrawing from the contest.
He pledged to abide by the oaths he had taken and to work closely with the Assembly members and the leadership of the Assembly to advance the development of the municipality.
Addressing the Assembly, Madam Cecilia Soyelleh, the Lawra Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), expressed gratitude to the Assembly Members for electing a PM to steer the affairs of the house.
She also briefed the Assembly on key developments in the municipality, including the proposed construction of a 24-Hour Economy Market in Lawra, education, security and agriculture, among others.
On the 24-Hour Economy Market, she said a contract had been awarded to Merss Madabu Company Limited for the execution of the project after consultants had assessed and approved the proposed site at the Lawra Weekly Market.
She said the market would come with facilities such as a police post, fire post and hydrants, women’s bank, restaurant, mall or supermarket, six-bed clinic, pharmacy, lorry terminal and food court, among others.
On security, the MCE said the municipality remained generally peaceful despite isolated incidents of cattle rustling, domestic violence and petty crimes.
She commended the security agencies for intercepting two vehicles transporting unauthorised items, including dynamite, cyanide and tramadol concealed in foodstuffs and groceries.
“I have instructed the police to ensure that those who violate the laws of the country are investigated and made to face the full rigours of the law”, Madam Soyelleh stressed.
Touching on education, the MCE expressed concern over the municipality’s performance in the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which recorded a pass rate of 19 per cent.
“I have since tasked my Coordinating Director to organise a Municipal Education Oversight Committee meeting for us to discuss how to reverse the disturbing fall in performance”, Madam Soyelleh indicated.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali Kenneth Odeng Adade