Attempt to impeach Kumasi Mayor fails

An attempt by seven aggrieved members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to impeach the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kojo Bonsu, has failed.

At a press conference that was hurriedly arranged yesterday by the KMA, newsmen were informed that  the members who opposed the MCE failed to raise the one-third number of votes in the 135-member assembly required for an impeachment process.

The group needed at least 45 members to sign a petition they had written before they could forward it to the general assembly, but they failed to garner the needed support.

The seven, Kwame Kwakye, Ofosu Boakye Maxwell, Abdul-Basit Yahaya, Musah Ibrahim Munah, Alex Bediako, Abraham Boadi and Agyei Kusi Buadum, had written to the KMA calling for an emergency meeting as a first step in the impeachment process but it was turned down because they were unable to attach the list of expected backers for the motion.

On the contrary, 70 assembly members sent a counter petition to President John Dramani Mahama and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, urging the two to ignore an earlier letter written by the seven calling for the MCE to be sacked.

The endorsement by the 70 calling for the MCE’s continued stay in office further weakened the move by the seven aggrieved members who had also resorted to the use of radio in a smear campaign.  

In a 13-point counter petition, the 70, who are in favour of the mayor, said they considered the letter written by their seven colleagues as an insult, because their (the 70 members’) views were not sought before their (the seven members’) letter was forwarded to the President and the Asantehene.