THE Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, has urged members of the various sub-metropolitan councils in the metropolis to bury all their political differences and actively support the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to initiate programmes that will accelerate the pace of development in the metropolis.
Addressing members of the 10 sub-metropolitan councils, comprising 250 members, just before the councils were inaugurated, Mr Sarpong said “governance is a collective responsibility and needs the efforts of all and sundry”.
He, therefore, urged them to collectively agree on the development challenges facing their respective sub-metros, identify factors causing development challenges and mobilise efforts to deal with them.
The sub-metropolitan councils were made up of Bantama, Suame, Oforikrom, Asawasi, Kwadaso, Tafo, Asokwa, Nhyiaso, Subin and Manhyia.
The councils in the Kumasi metropolis were dissolved about six years ago, making it impossible for the KMA to function effectively.
Mr Sarpong said the inauguration of the sub-metro councils “marks a critical phase in the life of the KMA as it sets itself up to deepen decentralisation in the county, especially in the Kumasi metropolis”.
He noted that, “the absence of the councils made implementation of Government, assembly decisions and policies a challenge”, stressing that “issues ranging from inadequate staffing, low revenue generation, poor sanitation and unauthorised structures are a few of the challenges facing the sub-metro offices”.
He pledged to provide the councils with all the necessary office accommodation, equipment and logistics to facilitate their work.
Mr Sarpong advised them to be guided by the rules and regulations that backed their operations and work according to the provisions in the Legislative Instrument by seeking guidance where necessary.
Inaugurating the councils, the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku–Manu urged members of the council to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the public.
“You need to consider your positions as servants of the people and avoid lording yourselves over your constituents. You need to listen more to the people by involving them in formulating policies and programmes to address common problems,” he advised.
He said through such initiatives, they would be able to secure support of their constituents, which would “enable them consider programmes and projects undertaken by the councils as their own”.
The regional minister advised them to be “honest, dedicated and exhibit high sense of commitment in their approach to their mandate”.
He also urged them to co-operate with their directors and other technical officers assigned to their councils and avoid issues likely to “detract the councils from achieving their respective objectives”.
With such unity of purpose, the sub-metros would be able to deliver to the expectation of the people, he stated.
A Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Frank Amoah, swore members of the council into office after the Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, had inaugurated the councils.
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