Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu’s style of leadership has come under severe criticism from Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly members, with some calling for his resignation.
According to the members, the Mayor disregards them and looks down upon them. He also allegedly does not consult the Assembly when initiating policies and fails to bring budgets to the Assembly for approval.
In a media interview, Maxwell Ofusus Boakye, the Assembly member for Abusuakruwa electoral area, indicated that the Mayor also does not obey laws and even uses vulgar language on the Assembly members when they speak their mind and comment on policies.
Mr Boakye said: “The Assembly Constitution per Act 462 mandates the budget to be brought before the Assembly and the Committee for deliberation and approval, but Kwadwo Bonsu flouts this constitutional regulation.”
He added that the Assembly has petitioned Ashanti king Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, President John Mahama, and the Regional Police Commander over the Mayor’s conduct.
Mr Boakye called for the Mayor to be disciplined or else the Assembly would be left with no option but to cast a vote of no confidence in him.
This is part of an ongoing tussle between the Mayor and members of the Assembly. Earlier this year, the Mayor sued two assembly members for defamation, claiming damages to the tune of Gh¢300,000.
The two; Philip Addae, Assembly member for Kokoso electoral area and Assembly member for Anomangye, Maxwell Ofosu Boachie, were sued for accusing the Mayor of selling a tract of land opposite KMA to a Korean firm and a precast parcel of land as well.
They allegedly also made statements on a local radio station in February this year that the Mayor is aware of a Gh¢200 bribe each collected from 286 market women, in his name.
Speaking to an Accra radio station, the Mayor laughed off both the petition and the calls for his resignation saying the issues raised are “petty and unnecessary”.
By: Evans Osei-Bonsu
