Resign or face our wrath: KMA members threaten MCE
Some assembly members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) have given a one-week ultimatum to the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Kojo Bonsu, to resign for allegedly inflating the prices of stores and shops at the yet-to-be completed Kejetia Market.
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They alleged that Mr Bonsu, among other things, had unilaterally increased the prices of the shops from an initially agreed GH¢1,500 to GH¢25,000 each.
They further accused Mr Bonsu of showing gross disrespect for the Manhyia Palace.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Manager of the KMA, Mr Godwin Okumah Nyame, has told the Daily Graphic that Mr Bonsu will react at the appropriate time.
Addressing a news conference in Kumasi on Monday, the immediate past Presiding Member of the assembly, Mr Kofi Senya, who is contesting to be retained, urged about 2,000 traders who are alleged to have paid the new prices to go for a refund.
The assembly members appeared to have been angered by a letter allegedly written by Mr Bonsu to the Amoamahene, Nana Agyenim Boateng, a nominee of the Manhyia Palace on the Kejetia/Central Market Redevelopment Project, asking for a formal letter from the palace on who was the rightful representative on the project.
They said the letter, tendered at the news conference, amounted to slighting and questioning the authority of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Resign or face wrath
They, subsequently, apologised to the Asantehene on behalf of the assembly for the letter which, they said, was in bad taste and asked Mr Bonsu to step down honourably, else they would organise a series of demonstrations to compel him to do so.
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The group, wearing red and black attire to show that they were furious, also alleged that the KMA boss was conniving with some government officials to extort money from the traders.
They alleged that a Brazilian loan of $298 million that was secured by the government for the construction of the market had allegedly been squandered by Mr Bonsu and his team and that they were making the effort to secure a loan from the UBA Bank to complete the project.
Kejetia market project
In 2015, Parliament approved a Brazilian loan of $298 million for the construction of the Kejetia Market. The first phase of the project is estimated at $198 million.
It is being constructed by a Brazilian construction firm called Contracta. Two thousand stores and shops are reportedly ready to be occupied.