New Mayor Of Merton Is Sworn In

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Mitcham councillor is the borough's 50th Mayor

Merton Council now has its 50th Mayor after Councillor Agatha Akyigyina was officially elected at the annual council meeting on Wednesday (June 4).

Originally from Ghana, Councillor Akyigyina has lived in the UK since the age of nine and in Mitcham for the past 31 years. She has two surviving adult children, Charles and Teresa. She also had a daughter, Susannah, who passed away seven years ago and, up until her death, was supported by local charities.

Councillor Akyigyina, who represents Figge's Marsh in Mitcham, is very active in the community. She is governor at St Mark’s Primary School and the special educational needs school, Perseid. She is also a street pastor, Home Start volunteer and associate manager at Springfield Hospital. She helps at a mother and toddlers group in Mitcham, is vice chair of North East Mitcham Community Centre, a trustee of the Horizon Centre in Pollards Hill and is also chair of the Ghanaian Parents' Association.

The Mayor's chosen charities for her tenure are Shooting Star Chase, a children's hospice charity caring for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and Merton Street Pastors, a charity whose volunteers go out to patrol the streets of Mitcham and Wimbledon on Friday nights to help people who are in need of listening ear and support. Councilor Akyigyina will also support charity events for the Colour House Theatre and HPCT (The Pilgrimage Trust).

New Deputy Mayor for 2014/2015, Councillor Laxmi Attawar from Colliers Wood, will support the Mayor in her duties over the coming year.

The annual council meeting also recognised the work completed by Krystal Miller during her year in office, including over £45,000 she raised for Home Start Merton and the Polka Theatre.

Mayor of Merton, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, said: "I am extremely proud to have been elected as the Mayor of Merton and excited about the year ahead. During my time as Mayor I will place a strong emphasis on celebrating the unsung heroes of the borough who work hard to make Merton a great place. My councillor colleagues and I are all deeply grateful for the excellent work of the outgoing Mayor, Krystal Miller, who raised thousands of pounds for charities and did so much good work during her mayoralty."

Outgoing Mayor, Krystal Miller said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time as Mayor and was honoured to represent Merton at many events over the past year. I am pleased to have raised a large sum of money for charity and to have been able to thank many volunteers for their hard work throughout my Mayoralty. I express my best wishes to Councillor Agatha Akyigyina as Merton's new Mayor who I know will do a great job. I hope she enjoys every second and know she will have a rewarding year."

June 5, 2014