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The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has once again, been left without a Presiding Member after eight elections.

The unopposed candidate for the Presiding Member position, Mr. Senya, was not elected by members of Assembly. The election ended with 65 assembly members voting NO against Nana Kofi Senya, whilst 62 people voted YES. Adumhene, Nana Baffour Adjei Kesse, stepped down earlier today [Tuesday], to allow Mr. Senya contest for the Presiding Member slot unopposed. He however lost, rendering the assembly without a Presiding Member after five sittings on Tuesday.

Mr. Senya had refused to step down for other assembly members to be nominated for the presiding member slot. But after pleas, he eventually heeded the calls and stepped down. Earlier on Tuesday, an Assembly member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Abdullah Muaza, traded blows with a National Democratic Congress (NDC) serial caller, during proceedings to elect a Presiding Member for the assembly. 

A brawl also broke out the last time the assembly was convened in May, to elect a new Presiding Member. That brawl is believed to have been caused by disagreements over seemingly last-minute rule changes instituted by the Assembly’s Electoral Commission. Although assembly elections are non-partisan as stipulated in the constitution, political parties are largely involved in the elections behind the scenes. In the case of the current deadlock at the KMA, the two candidates who have been rejected are believed to be affiliated to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).