The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has failed to elect a Presiding Member after two rounds of voting, as incumbent Patrick Kwame Frimpong fell short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
The election, held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, saw Mr. Frimpong secure 35 votes in the first round and slightly improve his tally to 36 votes in the second round. His sole contender, Ernest Baffour Ofori, obtained 24 votes in the first round and 23 votes in the second round.
Despite leading in both rounds, Mr. Frimpong was unable to meet the mandatory threshold stipulated under Section 27 of the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936), which requires a Presiding Member to be elected by at least two-thirds of members and voting. With a total membership of 66 Assembly members, a candidate must secure a minimum of 44 votes to be duly elected.
The process initially attracted four aspirants, but Isham Alhassan and Kwame Agyemang withdrew their nominations prior to voting, leaving the contest between Mr. Frimpong and Mr. Ofori.
The inconclusive outcome means the Assembly is yet to secure a Presiding Member to chair its sittings and oversee its deliberations for the next two-year term. In accordance with the law, another meeting is expected to be convened within 10 days to conduct a fresh election.
The Presiding Member plays a pivotal role in moderating proceedings of the Assembly, ensuring order during deliberations, and providing leadership in local legislative functions. The delay in electing a substantive Presiding Member therefore places temporary limitations on the Assembly’s full operational structure.
Assembly members are expected to reconvene in the coming days with renewed consultations and negotiations aimed at achieving the required consensus to break the current deadlock and ensure continuity in the governance of the Kumasi metropolis.
