A disagreement between Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Roland Ayoo and the Assembly’s Presiding Member, Lambert Akunzebe, over an alleged 8pm event restriction has opened a new front of tension within the Assembly.
The dispute centres on the interpretation and enforcement of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly (Passing Out, Launching and Graduation) Bye-laws, 2024, which states that no person is allowed to hold passing-out, launching or graduation ceremonies after 8pm.
The bye-law further provides for a fine of 100 penalty units for property owners and 300 penalty units for event organisers who breach the provision, upon conviction.
The controversy intensified after the Presiding Member spoke about the restriction, prompting Management of the Assembly to issue a statement on Sunday, August 30, denying that it had imposed a blanket 8pm ban on events.
The conflicting positions have raised questions about the relationship between the two senior Assembly officials and whether they are operating from a common position on the matter.
There are also political rumours within the constituency that the disagreement may be linked to emerging political alignments ahead of the NDC’s next parliamentary primary in Bolgatanga Central.
The speculation suggests that MCE Roland Ayoo is aligned with the incumbent Member of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, while the Presiding Member, Lambert Akunzebe, is perceived by some party actors as sympathetic to Prosper Awuni, who is reportedly considering a bid for the NDC parliamentary slot.
However, there is no confirmation from either Mr Ayoo or Mr Akunzebe that their disagreement over the event restriction is politically motivated, and the two issues should not be treated as established fact.
What is established is that the Assembly’s own 2024 bye-law contains a specific 8pm restriction on passing-out, launching and graduation ceremonies, while Management has rejected the interpretation of its position as a blanket ban on events after 8pm.
The unresolved question is therefore both administrative and political: does the 2024 bye-law still apply, and has the disagreement over its enforcement exposed deeper divisions within the Assembly and the governing NDC in Bolgatanga Central?
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
