Kumasi mayor on collision course with council

The Ghanaian Chronicle carries that the metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Maxwell Kofi Jumah, is on a collision course with the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) over transfer of staff.

In what has been described as absolute disregard for authority in the face of sworn oath of allegiance, Mr Jumah, who is also known as Kofi Ghana is said to have refused the transfer of about 50 revenue officials to other districts.

The said transfers were effected by the RCC as part of career development for the staff, some of whom had been at post for more than 37 years. Some of the districts affected by the MCE's refusal are Amansie West, Asante Akim South and Adansi East.

According to RCC sources, Amansie West has only five revenue officers while Asante Akim South and Adansi East have seven and four respectively. The KMA has over 150 revenue officials including 86 commissioned revenue collectors.

The RCC has confirmed Jumah's refusal to release the staff on transfer. He has also not accepted the postings of other staff to the KMA, rendering them stranded.

Jumah, according to RCC sources, had initially refused the release of the staff on the grounds that an audit team was auditing the KMA. Several months after the audit team had finished its work and issued reports, the MCE is still refusing to release them.