DRAMA un­folded at the Ayawaso West and Central Municipal Assemblies on Wednesday as the Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) nominees by President John Dramani were re­jected by their respective assembly members.The two were Dr Michael Mensah, nominee for the Ayawaso West, and Mr Rudolph Colling­woode-Williams, nominee for the Ayawaso Central.Dr Mensah, the nominee for Ayawaso West, secured only nine votes out of the total of 19 members present and voting while Mr Collingwoode-Williams of Ayawaso Central polled six votes out of the 17 members present and voting.The results implied that the two nominees failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds that qualified them as MCEs for their respective assemblies.Some of the disappointed assembly members and govern­ment appointees who participated in the electoral process said that the rejection of the nominee could hinder development of the two municipalities.Others too were of the view that the nominees were rejected be­cause they did not meet the needs and expectations of the assembly members.The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo described what transpired at the two assemblies as unfortunate.According to her, it was dis­appointing that despite receiving assurances from all the assembly members, including even govern­ment appointees ahead of the two elections, they would still go ahead and do what they did.She said it was important to further engage assembly members and government appointees on the essence of confirming Metropoli­tan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) nominat­ed by the President in order to enhance development at the local level.The Minister said a meeting with the assembly members would be held within a week to ensure that another election was conduct­ed for the confirmation of the MCE nominated.The National Democratic Con­gress (NDC) Deputy Communica­tion Officer of Ayawaso Central, Sheibanee Muntaka said the rejec­tion of Mr Collingwoode-Williams as the MCE of Ayawaso Central was a disrespect to the President."We have voted against dis­cipline, development and every­thing good for Ayawaso Central.

Whatever the reason may be, there will be no better way to say thank you to the President for giving us a nominee," Muntaka said. BY BENJAMIN  ARCTON-TETTEY