Two candidates vying for the Eastern Regional Council of state election have stepped down few minutes before voting begins.
Citizen Kofi Tetteh announced his withdrawal to support Asiedu Offei, Presiding Member for Akuapem North while Baffour Agyare Yeboah , stepped down declared support for Seth Agyei Baah.
The election faced an unexpected delay when 66 delegates failed to show up , leaving their seats empty.
Despite the readiness of the EC to commence the process, the absence of the delegates temporarily halted proceedings for an hour.
Sixty-six delegates are expected to vote on the rest of the 22 candidates in the race.
President needs strong Council of State for Reset Agenda – Eastern Regional Minister
Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey has stressed the need for a strong Council of State to support President John Dramani Mahama in his mission to reset Ghana.
Speaking at the Council of State election in the Eastern Region, the Minister stated that the President requires a robust and capable Council to provide sound advice and direction in governance.
“The President has already indicated that we are resetting Ghana. Therefore, he needs a very strong Council of State to give him good counsel and direction in all spheres of governance,” she said.
The Minister expressed excitement over the high level of interest in the Council of State elections, noting that 24 prominent individuals, including three women, are vying for the position in the Eastern Region—the highest number of candidates among all 16 regions.
She commended the representatives of the 33 Municipal/District Assemblies, who form the electoral college, for their commitment to fulfilling this constitutional mandate.
The election, conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC), is in line with Article 89 (2) (c) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the election of regional representatives to the Council of State for a four-year term.
The Regional Minister stressed that the process ensures fair regional representation and strengthens democratic institutions.
She called for a peaceful, transparent, and fair election, urging all participants to conduct themselves with dignity and respect. “Our collective commitment to these values will give meaning to the fact that every vote counts and that the outcome will truly reflect the will of the people,” she added.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
