Kofi "ex-SIL" Ghana Speaks

IT IS SEVEN months now since ex-Ghanaweb SayItLoud (SIL) contributor, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, alias Kofi Ghana, was confirmed to assume office as the Mayor of Kumasi and the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Since then (May 8, 2001) the man has announced his vision of changing Kumasi and improving the quality of life of the residents.

The Metro Chief Executive has on a number of occasions made promises bordering on his vision and sometimes backed these promises with action.

So far, so good. The good news, however, is that KMA is picking up from the mess left behind by his predecessor, a situation Kofi Jumah describes as precarious.

It is on record that between 1995 and 2000, about ?181 billion in property rate was owed to the KMA. The picture is different.

At least revenue has doubled from ?3 billion in 2000 to ?6 billion as at now and the amount is expected to double every other year. For once KMA might enter another year with a surplus.

The Metro Chief Executive estimates that KMA should be making between ?20 and ?30 billion and hopes to achieve this target.

The Mayor has identified waste as a major problem and has taken steps to correct it by refocusing on cuts in expenditure.

So far, he has been able to reduce the consumption of fuel drastically. From 5,200 gallons per day in four months in 2000, the KMA now uses 2,800 gallons of fuel in eight months.

All grounded vehicles, equipment, tractors and bulldozers have been fixed and are back on the road. Lost and auctioned cars at a low price of ?500,000 have been reportedly retrieved.

The practice by which KMA hired bulldozers for ?1.5 billion a day is stopped. Kofi Ghana is firmly seated in the saddle and in control.

Hear him: “With the experience so far gained, Kumasi ought to move forward to catch up with the developing world”.

His vision, in actual fact, is to see Kumasi like any other city in the world.

On the economic front, Jumah has observed that Kumasi has a solid economic base which makes the city a marketable product in itself. “It is worth exploiting to the full to create the desired change”, he said adding that “it is no longer acceptable that Ghana should have things done differently from the rest of the world”.

The tremendous success of the just-ended first ever Grand Sales organised by Ghana Trade Fair Company Ltd (Nov. 26 - Dec.7) attests to Jumah’s optimism that “Kumasi is certainly ready for business” and would do anything to woo investors and improve upon the lot of the people.

The Mayor has already undertaken foreign trips to Holland and London. He intends going to the USA soon on an investment drive.

While in Holland, Jumah met with the Mayor of Almere, a sister city with KMA and renewed a contract with Almere which contract would have expired this year.

At least KMA has thus established a direct link with the Mayor of Almere instead of dealing with the City of Almere through an NGO.

Following an appeal to Ashanti citizens resident in London, Jumah has procured eight computers and stationery for the KMA.

A group of black architects are reportedly looking at details of financing the redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market which has been on the drawing board since 1988.

The redevelopment of all Satellite markets is also under consideration, Mayor Jumah has assured. An airline with its hub in Kumasi is also being considered following the MCE’s foreign trips recently.

Another group of black Americans from Philadelphia in the US led by a Ghana Pastor Moses have visited Kumasi and expressed the desire to establish a hospital for Kumasi.

To give meaning to his cherished priority of developing the human resource base of KMA for proper development, a massive training programme has been organised to enhance the capabilities of all categories of staff.

About eight officials including the District (Metro) Co-ordinating Director and the Presiding Member have undertaken trips outside Ghana to sharpen their skills. The end result is the very high morale of staff.

Jumah is making sure that professionals, accountants, engineers and economic officers handle the day-to-day activities under its decentralised policy.

At the moment, the KMA is computerised and all manual typewriters replaced with the recently acquired eight more computers for efficiency.

On sanitation and environment, health inspectors (saman,saman) are being recruited for training. Fifteen persons are being trained to augment the five sanitary inspectors currently at post.

MCE Jumah says the long-term plans for sanitation puts Kumasi far ahead of all cities in Ghana. The KMA is almost through with a ?1.5billion faecal sludge treatment plant at Buabai near Kumasi under a World Bank project for the management of solid waste. Garbage are being cleared regularly and the heaps of rubbish which were a common sight previously are disappearing.

The darkness which characterised the streets of Kumasi is no more. Almost. The streetlights are suddenly appearing and the streets are brightly lit in the night. The roads are being made passable as potholes are being sealed.

The KMA under Mayor Jumah is currently addressing reckless driving in the city through the organisation of series of refresher courses for all taxi and trotro drivers. About 140 drivers have so far gone through road signs, road markings, insurance, driver-passenger relationship to boost tourism.

By the design of the programme, all drivers would have to convince the KMA that they (drivers) know the terrain in which they operate.

According to Kofi Ghana, it did not stand to reason to sanction people without first educating them. Those drivers who dodge this training programme do so at their own risk. They would not be issued with the KMA licence to drive in the city. Refresher courses for drivers?

That is a good idea except that it is not going to be easy trying to educate taxi and trotro drivers most of whom do not know their right from their left.

It was a colleague journalist now Reverend Oppong Baah who advised me to be extra careful while driving because in Kumasi, the car ahead of you would show a traffic indicator with the intent of turning right when in actual fact it wants to go left and vice-versa.

The fearsome KMA Task Force I hear, would definitely strike and demolish unauthorised structures to give Kumasi the needed face-lift. “Kumasi must be decongested at all cost” and that the demolition exercise is not abandoned.

According to Jumah, all attempts at the demolition exercise have been ad hoc and reminded residents to be ready and appreciate the exercise which would benefit them. Kofi Ghana is yet to introduce identity cards for residents of Kumasi.

Come next year, the KMA will also ensure equitable distribution of market stalls. The Mayor intends adopting “one trader (woman) one stall” and abolish the situation where one person may own about 10 of the stalls.

With regard to lawlessness, the City Mayor has stated categorically that his outfit would not allow law breakers to ruin the metropolis. Kumasi, according to Jumah, would definitely be at the forefront of the party’s positive change slogan.

This is Kofi Ghana for you - the man who symbolises action. Kofi Ghana has promised Kumasi residents including the occupant of the Golden Stool, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and His Excellency, the President a real change.

That for now is his vision. Are you ready for change, Kumasi? Let’s heed Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama’s advice and capitalise on Jumah’s rich experiences and give change a chance. Ride on, Kofi Ghana but no disappointment, please.