Regional News of Thursday, 17 December 2015

Source: starrfmonline.com

AMA members fight over sitting allowances

Accra Mayor, Dr Alfred Vanderpuije Accra Mayor, Dr Alfred Vanderpuije

There was an open confrontation at a meeting of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) today Thursday , November 17 over sitting allowances, StarrFMonline.com has learnt.

It is unclear what triggered the fight but StarrFMonline.com sources at the meeting say members could not accept an excuse by the leadership of the AMA to postpone the payment of their allowances after long hours of sitting today. Others were also concerned about the amount itself.

StarrFMonline.com is unable to confirm if the AMA chief executive Oko Vanderpuije himself was at the meeting.

The development comes in the wake of the controversial payment of GHC 3.6 million for rebranding of some 116 government buses.

The John Mahama-led administration has come under fire over the use of the Petroleum Fund to rebrand the Metro Mass Transit Buses.

er the arrangement with Smarttys Management and Production, the company that did the job, branding for each bus cost the nation GHC31.000.

The minority has called for a probe into the matter but the Majority has defended the cost, saying it is justifiable.

The owner of Smarttys production is allegedly a popular actress and a TV presenter – Selasi Ibrahim - who is often seen at gatherings and rallies of the ruling party.