Elections for 10 regional representatives who will advise the President on the Council of State is currently underway across the country.

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In the Volta region, Albert Francis Nyonyo has been declared winner of the Council of State contest. He polled 29 votes. His closest contender, Togbe Gbogbolulu V managed 8 votes. 11 candidates had no votes out of the 50 ballots cast.

Albert Francis Nyonyo

In the Ashanti region, Nana Owusu achiaa Brempong obtained 45 votes to beat Manhyia-backed Mawerehene who got 5 votes.

Photo: Nana Owusu achiaa Brempong

In the Brong Ahafo region, 73-year old Kodwo Agyenim-Boateng emerged as the winner of the Council of State elections held at the Sunyani Municipal Assembly hall. He polled 21 out of the 50 votes cast beating his closest contender Nana Osei Yaw Barimah who polled 11.

He is the father of Berekum west member of parliament Kwaku Agyenim-Boateng.

In the Central region, the vice president of it Regional House of Chiefs, Oberempong Appiah Nuamah II has won with 11 votes.

In Eastern region,Nana Somuah Mireku has won the slot after the 63-year old accountant garnered 26 votes out of the 52 votes cast to beat his closest contender, Ambassador Afari Apeadu Donkor who had 23 votes.

It's over in the Western Region where the favourite - Eunice Jacqueline Buah has carried the day. The 52-year old business woman polled 24 votes out of 44 votes cast to beat five other aspirants. Two contestants stepped down before the polls began.

Photo: Eunice Jacqueline Buah

In the Ashanti region, five have stepped down to leave 11 contestants. There are 60 delegates voting in the elections.

In the Greater Accra region, CEO of Ideal Group of Companies Kotei Dzani has been declared the winner after beating 12 other aspirants. The 37-year old economist had 20 of the votes cast. His close contender Nene Atiapa III had 12. All others had zero.

The Electoral Commission has declared the President of the Upper West regional House of Chiefs Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton as the winner for the region's slot.

He polled 13, votes. His nearest challenger 34 year old accountant got 7 and Gbankor Naa got 2 votes.

In the Eastern region, two aspirants - Prof. SKB Asante and Nana Okrukata V have withdrawn leaving nine to contest.

Photo: Aspirants for the Eastern regional representative on the Council of State.

In the Greater Accra region, the event commenced at 10am at the GA West Municipal Assembly auditorium. There are 32 delegates from the 16 assemblies who would have to choose from 16 candidates for the slot.

Even before the Electoral Commission began the process the former minister under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government Enoch Teye Mensah has withdrawn his nomination.

A letter he signed said the reasons for his withdrawal are personal. Some NDC activists opposed his decision to vie for the position raising questions about how a founding member of the opposition NDC would want to sit in council with its political rival, the NPP.

But Mr Mensah explained that he had worked effectively with both members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and NDC during his political life and would do same as a council of state member.

"If we are able to work together at the Assembly level and in Parliament [why not]?" he justified his nomination.

The former Ningo-Prampram MP lost his party's parliamentary primaries in November 2015 to end his 23-year parliamentary career.

Two other aspirants in the Greater Accra region have also withdrawn from the race. They are Eric Asamani and
Nene Teye Agyemang V. It brings the number of aspirants in the region to 13.

Some 113 Ghanaians are contesting for a seat at the Council of State as at the close of nominations. Only six of them are females.

The Volta region has the highest number of contestants with 21 persons. This is followed by the Ashanti region - 19, Greater Accra-16, Eastern Region, Brong-Ahafo Region and the Northern Region have 11 contestants each.

The Upper East- seven contestants. The Western Region and Central Region have six while the Upper West region has the least - five.

Two delegates from each of all the region's metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies will  form an electoral college in each region to elect a regional representative.

There are 216 MMDAs which means 432 delegates will decide the fate of 113 aspirants.

 

Expect updates...