Deputy Local Government Minister, Baba Jamal has assured the chiefs and people of Lower  Manya  Krobo Municipal Assembly (LMKMA) in the Eastern Region that processes are far advanced to put in place a substantive management committee to oversee the affairs of the area.

He noted that government as far back as June informed the Electoral Commission on the need to conduct assembly election in the area. He said the EC has also written to the Finance Ministry for funds, which he said was being worked on.

They have declared self governance in Lower Manya Krobo now. The chiefs and the people say they will no longer pay tolls, taxes and levies to the interim local assembly until the municipal assembly is properly constituted. The assembly has been without elected members since 2010.
Last week, the Manya Krobo Traditional Council issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Electoral Commission (EC) to announce a date for assembly elections, which were not held in 2010 because of a dispute over the alignment of six electoral areas in the municipality in the Eastern Region with the Dangme West District in the Greater Accra Region.

But Baba Jama Thursday told Joy News the process has already started to conduct election there with a strong commitment from the central government.

He was sure “sooner than later” the election would be held in Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly.

He also remarked that even with the absence of a properly constituted assembly, the interim management committee is doing well with the administrative work there citing the construction of market and schools. “The people there are not complaining of lack of development,” he pointed out.

Baba Jamal said the area has a right to demand for the election but  cautioned the people against flouting the laws of the country.