Yamoah Ponkoh rejected again by Ejisu-Juaben Assembly members
The Ejisu-Juabeng Municipal Assembly rejected its former CEO, Kwaku Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh, for the second time in a drama-filled election with heavy security presence yesterday.
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Results
The embattled Ponkoh secured 38 out of the 68 votes but the number was not enough to grab the two-thirds majority to return to his seat, which he has occupied for the last four years.
Although he was unable to secure the needed 45 votes, his performance at yesterday’s elections was an improvement over the first one where he managed to get only 27 votes out of the 68 ballots.
He, however, has a final opportunity in 10 days to redeem his image or call it quits.
Atmosphere
Work at the assembly, venue for the election, came to a temporary halt as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party bigwigs, including the Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon, workers and people across the assembly thronged the arena which had been cordoned off by dozens of gun-wielding policemen.
Not even journalists were allowed to witness the voting procedure as pre-election jostling, horse trading and bad-mouthing filled the atmosphere.
But there was spontaneous jubilation, especially among assembly workers and traders immediately the results were declared, and a group of well-built men — those for Ponkor and those against — burst out into unexplained scuffle and heckling as the police stepped in to arrest a few who were released moments later.
Not even a downpour could stop the women in particular from jubilating, and taunting the former chief executive as he stayed glued to his seat for a long time.
‘What can I do, I have done everything humanly possible but this is what I got. I am not down because this result is far better than the first one and I know it will get better in the next 10 days,’ a smiling Ponkor told the Daily Graphic.
Nomination
The former MCE was one of 13 people re-nominated by President John Dramani Mahama recently to contest their seats.
He was relying heavily on the 21 government appointees in the assembly and members who were absent at the last elections but it did not materialise.
The President was acting in accordance with article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and section 20(1) of the Local Government Act, Act 462.
Curses
The election had been heralded by curses as some assembly members were seen smashing eggs and pouring schnapps to invoke the powers of the Ashanti deity, Antoa Nyamaa, at the last election.
Leadership style
In spite of his hard work, Yamoah Ponkor, according to workers at the assembly, has a problem with his human relation and his leadership style.
His opponents complain about his alleged dictatorial style and have vowed to kick him out completely but that remains to be seen in 10 days’ time.
