Kojo Bonsu’s agony far from over

The immediate past Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Kumasi, Mr Kojo Bonsu, left office under pressure from the Kumasi Traditional Council, but that is not the end of his agony, as there clear indications that some of the assembly members he worked with are also planning to cause investigations into his tenure of office.

The assembly members, the paper gathered, are preparing to launch serious enquirers into some contracts which were awarded by the assembly, but which were not approved by the General House as a result of the absence of a Presiding Member.

The object of the onslaught may not be limited to the former MCE alone, but also his vociferous and loud-mouthed Spokesperson, Sammy Gyamfi, who has also incurred the wrath of some Asante chiefs and assembly members, following strings of interviews he granted some radio stations after the exit of his boss.

Among the major contracts which the Assembly members would be seeking better and further particulars are the construction of the Rattray Park, the on-going Kejetia/Central Markets redevelopment projects, construction of classroom blocks at Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA), as well as other infrastructural projects currently on-going.

Some members of the house, including Maxwell Ofosuh Boakye and Abraham Boadi, aka ‘Opooman’, have already signalled their intention to pursue matters against the former MCE, and compel him to answer certain nagging questions surrounding the awards and execution of some contracts in the metropolis.

The former Assembly Member for Dichemso Electoral Area, Kwabena Nsekyire, who is also set to reclaim his seat after a Kumasi High Court ruled in his favour, has also given indications of his intention to raise issues bordering on the operations of the house.

In the case of the Rattray Park, whose total amount still remains a mystery, Maxwell Ofosu is likely to re-open a petition he filed at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), concerning the use of a whopping sum of GH¢80,000 for the construction of a fence wall.

Though his earlier petition on the matter at EOCO did not see the light of the day, after the investigative body ordered that the case be transferred to the national capital, Maxwell Ofosuh says he will revive the matter now that the MCE is no longer in office.

The Assembly Member for the Abusuakruwa Electoral Area has also indicated his resolve to pursue another serious issue bordering on the construction of a classroom block at Kumasi Academy (KUMACA), which, he alleges, contains some suspicious deals.

At a press conference held recently, Ofosuh Boakye also accused the former MCE of failing to account for proceeds made at the Kejetia Terminal after the eviction of the then managers of the Lorry Park, Messrs. Freko FD Limited.

On his part, the former Assembly Member for Dichemso, Nsenkyire, also raised concerns in an interview with The Chronicle about the contractual details involving the Rattray Park, and circumstances under which the initial agreement with Mr Kwadwo Nsafoah Pokuh (Polla) was abrogated.

Efforts by media personnel, including The Chronicle, to get the former MCE to give the contractual sum of the Rattray Park proved futile. He is on record to have scolded a reporter with this paper for being too obsessed with the question of cost of projects.

During the eventual commissioning, when residents in Kumasi thought that the controversy surrounding the amount used for the project would be settled, insults were added to injury, after the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, described those calling for contractual details as “ugly noise makers”.

When the former MCE finally opened his two jaws and broke the silence over the issue, the residents were shocked to hear that the project was valued at $4.4 million.