AMA Member attempt to pass vote of no confidence in Accra Mayor Vanderpuije

There was pandemonium at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) on Tuesday when  some members  attempted to pass a vote of no confidence in the Mayor, Mr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, but for some,  it was a complete disregard for the assembly rules of engagement.

Sources close to the AMA say about 85 members attended the purported emergence assembly meeting that took place to pass a vote of confidence on Monday October 17 but the right procedures were not used.

There was tension at the AMA headquarters as the assembly hall was locked up  to prevent members from using it but was later opened with most of the chairs and that of the presiding member taken away.

When the GNA got to the AMA premises, Policemen and women had been deployed to enforce order but this did not to go down well with the dissent assembly members who did not understand way the Police should be deployed and at the same time have the place locked.

According to the Standing Orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan  Assemblies, the District Chief Executive may be removed from office at any time by the a vote of no  confidence supported by not less than two thirds of all members of the District assembly.

It could also be done by a secret ballot and the ballot to be conducted by the Electoral commission after a resolution supported by at least one third of all members of the assembly has been carried.

This implies that since two thirds of the members were not present, the purported vote of no confidence was null and void.

Some Members of the Assembly including the Presiding Member, Mr Addo Biney, refused to comment on issue saying, the issue was being resolved from “the top” and would want to wait for the outcome.

Meanwhile, some sections of the Government appointees of the Assembly in a statement signed by Mr.Nee Adjebu Lamptey, has dissociated themselves from the said meeting  and the supposed vote of no confidence.

“We re-affirm our confidence and support for the Mayor in view of his hard work and development initiatives which has made Accra the envy of the sub region”, the statement added.

Source: GNA