The newly elected Presiding Member (PM) polled 29 votes representing 70.73 per cent, while Mr Augustine Abanbire, her main opponent, polled 11 votes representing 29.27 per cent.

Madam Atayela who is occupying the position for the second time, was immediately sworn-in by Mr Abdul Hakeem Mumuni, a Bolgatanga Magistrate.

In her acceptance speech, Madam Atayela thanked the Assembly Members for the confidence reposed in her and urged them to put aside their differences to enable them push the agenda of the Assembly forward.

She said the cardinal principles that brought the members to the Assembly was for them to help ensure that they brought the needed development to the Bolgatanga Municipality. She urged them to bring their expertise to bear as enjoined by the standing orders of the assembly.

Mr Joseph Atura Amiyuure, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), called on members of the Assembly to participate in the affairs of the Assembly to achieve the needed goals. He urged them to share their perspectives and make concrete decisions, “let us agree on what we are supposed to be doing together to avoid pursuing a different agenda”.

Mr Amiyuure urged the members to consider sanitation issues and make it a priority on their agenda to maintain clean environments and help as well in the effort at reducing chieftaincy and land disputes within the Municipality.

The Assembly Members who were initially 58 were reduced to 41 because members from the newly created Bolgatanga East District have been reassigned to the Bolgatanga East District Assembly. Madam Atayala is not new to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly as an Assembly Member, having represented the Soe Electoral Area on two occasions.