Ada: Members of the Ada West District Assembly have protested against what they described as a violation of their constitutional right to nominate a representative to the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission Board.
According to Ghana News Agency, the protest was sparked by Mr Ernest Tetteh Kugblenu, the Assembly Member for the Sege-Koni Electoral Area, who questioned the authority and process behind the replacement of the Assembly's nominated representative without the knowledge or consent of the general Assembly.
In a united front, during a meeting, the Assembly members called for a brief recess to deliberate on the matter and upon their return, they unanimously resolved to suspend all proceedings until the District Chief Executive (DCE) and District Coordinating Director provided clear and satisfactory explanations on the issue.
Mr Modjifa Jerry John Foreigner Tanihu, the Ada West DCE, responding to the enquiry, told the Assembly members that he had no prior knowledge of the change in representation, and gave the assurance that he would initiate investigations and report back with accurate details.
Mr Philip Tetteh Sai, a former Presiding Member of the Assembly and representing the Anyamam electoral area, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that even if the Assembly's nominee was found to be ineligible, due process should have been followed before replacing him. He emphasized that the Assembly should have been officially informed and allowed to nominate a replacement, indicating that 'This is a breach of the Assembly's rights as stipulated under the Lands Commission Act, Act 767 until members are properly informed and the issue is resolved by consensus, no Assembly meeting will proceed.'
The Ghana News Agency gathered that the issue stemmed from an earlier decision by the Assembly to nominate Mr Ernest Tetteh Kugblenu as its representative on the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission Board. Members, however, discovered that a different person who was not an Assembly member had been named to represent the district, contrary to the requirements of the Lands Commission Act, which mandated that such a representative be elected and approved by the District Assembly.
The meeting was adjourned indefinitely, with Assembly members standing firm on their demand for transparency and accountability from the relevant authorities.
