The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, the powerful trade chamber in Ethiopia, re-elected Ayalew Zegeye as President of the Board of Directors. Vice President Abebaw Mekonnen was also reelected.
Ayalew Zegeye was re-elected as the only finalist left in the final round. The committee in charge of the nomination process started out with a field of 19 prospective presidential candidates.
The final list presented by the committee included Dr. Arega Yirdaw of the MIDROC Ethiopia Technology Group and Ermias Amelga Chief Executive Officer of Access Capital services as well as the incumbent.Dr. Arega and Ato Ermias were unable to accept their nomination because of extensive work commitments leaving Ayalew as the sole candidate on the ballot.
An estimated 500 members of the ACCSA protested the decision to allow Ayalew to run on his own and suggested propsing additional candidates.
The election committee refused to accept more nominees at such a late date and voting was conducted for the sole candidate.
Source: The Reporter
