KMA laments MPs' absence at meetings

A cross section of members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have expressed their dissatisfaction at the absence of Members of Parliament in the metropolis from meetings of the assembly.

There are 10 MPs in the Kumasi Metropolis but this group of assembly members contend that no meeting of the assembly has ever witnessed more than two of them in attendance. The MPs by virtue of their positions are automatic members of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

Aggrieved assembly members of the KMA made the complaint when the Local Government, Rural Development and Environment Minister, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, held an interactive meeting with the assembly in Kumasi.

Members of the assembly also complained about the government's policy of not paying assembly members salaries claiming that as an important chain in the decentralisation process, the situation tends to demoralise assembly members. They also expressed worry about their neglect by Ministries, Departments and Agencies when it comes to the execution of projects in their electoral areas, saying this smacks of disrespect for members of the assembly.

Earlier, Asamoah-Boateng had cautioned the members to shun infighting and other divisive tendencies that have the potential to stall the assembly"s progress. "Our assemblies have become too much of talk shops but the truth of the matter is that we have a direction to follow and a programme to implement," he said.

Asamoah-Boateng said his Ministry is drawing up a plan that will empower MMDA’s financially and administratively.

KMA Chief Executive, Patricia Appiagyei, said the Assembly has a responsibility to make the district assembly concept a success for others to follow. She said she would soon deliver her sessional address which will be the blueprint for the development agenda of the Kumasi metropolis.