[ 2016-07-20 ]

Three scramble for KMA job
There are seemingly intensive lobbying and chess
games among members of the National Democratic
Congress in the Ashanti Region over who becomes
the next Chief Executive of the Kumasi
Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

This is following the compulsory resignation of
Kwadwo Bonsu.

Usually, the dramatis personae mainly consist of
person(s) who are below ministers and particularly
those yet to get opportunity to contribute their
quota, but, this time around, the lobbyists
include former ministers of the region.

According to credible sources, there had
originally been five contenders to succeed Mr.
Bonsu, but the contest has now move to its final
stage for His Excellency the president to decide
on who to appoint.

The list of the persons submitted to the
Presidency includes but not limited to the
following Samuel Sarpong, Peter Anarfi Mensah both
of whom has served the region as ministers and a
new entrant Thomas Kwabena Braimah a business
mogul, a philanthropist and an ardent campaigner
and a leading light of grassroots campaign who has
lived his life and business in Kumasi.

Kwadwo Bonsu resigned after the Asanteman Council
called on His Excellency President John Mahama to
relieve him (Kwadwo Bonsu) of his post over his
decision to unilaterally remove Amoamanhene, Nana
Agyenim Boateng from the Kejetia Market project
board without informing the Asantehene, Otumfuo
Osei Tutu II, and the absolute rejection of his
apology to Nananom.

Interestingly, two of the lobbyists (Samuel
Sarpong and Peter Anarfi Mensah) are placing their
hopes on their connections with the leadership of
the party while ability to steer the ship of the
exalted but challenging position has been thrown
overboard.

On the other hand, TK Braimah is seriously
battling for renewal of President John Mahama’s
mandate giving what he perceives as his unrivaled
achievements since he came on the saddle.

Meanwhile, feelers indicated that the rat race to
the exalted position saw the emergence of power
blocks both within the party and externally.

One group within the party is convinced that
their choice Chief Executive candidate stands a
better chance of catching the president’s eye
based on what they perceive as his “impeccable
records of achievement as a private man.

Investigations by the National Pen reveal that TK
Braimah had secured support from all stakeholders
of the Metropolis and pledged to unify the
assembly for the development of the metropolis.

He promised "strong, proven leadership" to
negotiate the departure from the Traditional
Council, and to "make KMA an assembly that works
not for a privileged few but for every one of us",
our investigations reveal.

Political connoisseurs think Thomas Kwabena
Braimah would bring a "huge and fresh skills base"
to Assembly if appointed by the President.

They played down his lack of experience, saying
he would have "no problem stepping up to the job"
having had a long career outside politics, adding,
"He has done things outside of this place on so
many different levels’’, noting the
construction of a 1,500 lockable stores plus a bus
terminal now Nana Afia Kobi Market formerly
Abenkyi Market.

They argued that TK could have refused to hand
over the over 17.5 million cedis market to KMA for
management if not for the love of the metropolis
and the region as a whole.

For many, this ‘extra time appointment’
should be much about who can unite and rally the
assembly behind him to realize the objectives of
the assembly rather than who has done it before.
‘It is time to introduce new faces (game
changers) into the system to be able to the magic
for the Assembly, they added.

Meanwhile, an insider source within the Assembly
Members reveals the readiness and the resolve of
Assembly Members to endorse Thomas Braimah’s
appointment without fee. ‘We are ready to vote
for any of the hopefuls, but we shall do it for
Braimah for free’.

‘He has honoured the Mother of our King Otumfuo
Osei Tutu II by naming a market he built after her
(Nana Afia Kobi Market) after strenuous effort by
Kwadwo Bonsu to take over the market from him
forcefully.
The National Pen can report that TK Braimah’s
relationship with Manyhia and the Asanteman
Traditional Council is one that deserves to be
guarded jealousy.

A section of party loyalists believes that the
selection of Samuel Sarpong will mean skewing
development to Nhyiaiso Constituency where he is
currently standing trial as a parliamentary
candidate.

They argued that Sarpong's constituency is
amongst ten constituencies that form the Assembly.
For them, what KMA needs now is a neutral person
to ensure development in all ten constituencies
equitably

Source - The National Pen Newspaper

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