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New 'Sheriff' in Town

Mon, 14 May 2001 Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

May 8, 2001 was a momentous day in the history of Kumasi as Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah was sworn into office as the first Metro Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Mr. Justice G. M. Quaye, the Supeprvising High Court Judge performed the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Executive before an array of eminent people of all walks of life.

He had previously (May 2) received an overwhelming 100% approval by the 87 member KMA. Yes, a new Sheriff is in town.

A student of Town and Country Planning (TCP) at the then University of Science and Technology (UST), Kofi Jumah, is an ardent believer in the adage "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," and has decided to turn round the sorry state of Kumasi by working towards good sanitation practices and improving upon the environment. He has vowed to prevent early deaths of residents out of outbreaks of diseases for lack of simple community hygiene.

The turning of every valley into receptacles for garbage is, to him, not acceptable and intends to move against the practice where irresponsible members of the public pollute the environment indiscriminately. According to Kofi Jumah, the law of the jungle is over.

Taxi and trotro drivers who provoked the former mayor, Nana Akwasi Agyeman (or did Nana provoke the drivers?) would have to rethink those tendencies and simply obey the rules related to driving. He pledges to control land use and warned that residents obey land use regulations because it makes economic sense.

According to him the abuse and the recklessness as well as blatant irresponsible land development in the city is his biggest challenge. He is considering dismantling all illegal temporary structures defacing the city.

"The fact that we did not obey simple rules for a long time is no longer an excuse to tolerate those attitudes," he cautions. Jumah in his acceptance speech also pledged not to condone illegality to serve the selfish interst of others.

"We are going to guard against the plundering of the people's resources." He intends to sacrifice the people and not lord over them, assuring them "I am here to do what is in the interest of all not just the rich and powerful." Listen to him, "I am coming home to serve and manage the resources of residents of the city." The people of Kumasi expect much from him. They want to see positive change reflect in their lives through his vision, policies and programmes.

Welcome to Kumasi, Kofi Ghana.

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle