General News of Monday, 22 January 2001

Source: From Nehemia Owusu Achiaw, Kumasi

Ex-KMA Boss Asked to Return Govt. Propety or Face Arrest

THE Acting Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, has asked the ex-Metropolitan Chief Executive, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, to return all government property in his care within 24 hours or face police arrest.

Mr Nuamah Donkor, the former Ashanti Regional Minister and Acting Metro Chief Executive, gave the order after a meeting with members of the Assembly in Kumasi on Friday.

The meeting, the first after the general elections, was to review activities of the assembly and adopt new plans for development.

The Acting Metro Chief Executive asked the Metro Co-ordinating Director to serve Nana Akwasi Agyeman with a letter asking him to return items under his care to the assembly. He said if he failed, the assembly will seek the help of the police.

Nana Akwasi Agyeman was appointed a Special Envoy by Ex-President J. J. Rawlings after he had failed to secure the needed two third majority votes in the assembly to retain his post as metropolitan chief executive.

A source close to the assembly alleged that Nana Akwasi Agyeman is still in possession of the keys to his office. Other items said to be in his care include a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GR 3298 N, a Volvo saloon car and a Mitsubishi Pick-Up, all belonging to the assembly.

Nana Akwasi Agyeman is also alleged to have in his custody a number of packets of iron sheets and street light bulbs.

A five-member committee was instituted to investigate and provide a comprehensive inventory of all properties of the assembly.

The meeting also took a critical look at what has been described as the unfair manner in which stores and stalls were allocated to traders in the metropolis and called for a review of the allocation.

When contacted, Nana Agyeman expressed surprise at the allegations since he said he has never been approached by the former Regional Minister in connection with the items mentioned.

Nana Agyeman said when he was appointed a Special Envoy of the President, he was entitled to the vehicles mentioned.

He explained that he returned the Mitsubishi pick-up at the request of Mr Nuamah. “ I returned it personally to him and I am, therefore, surprised that it is listed among the vehicles in my custody”.

The former Metro-Chief Executive said he was waiting for a formal handing over of the office keys and the two vehicles but a number of official duties took him to Accra.

Nana Agyeman said he would have wished that the former Regional Minister had talked to him over the issue instead of issuing threats.

He said having served for 23 years in the public service, he was also entitled to purchase his saloon car as offered to other appointees.

Nana Agyeman was hopeful that this issue will not be used to settle personal scores and added “ I have served the KMA and the nation selflessly and it is therefore, unfair for me to be treated this way”.

I do not want to believe that this is being done for personal reasons and hatred for my personality”, he said.

He wondered why Mr Nuamah Donkor has now moved to the KMA as the acting Metropolitan Chief Executive. Nana Agyeman said it was by virtue of the fact that he was the regional Minister that Mr Nuamah Donkor was made the acting KMA Chief Executive.

“ Therefore having handed over the administration of the Regional Office to the Regional Co-ordinating Director, the supervisory role automatically should be in the hands of the Regional Co-ordinating Director or the Metro Co-ordinating Director and not Mr Nuamah Donkor”.