OBSERVATIONS made at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) have indicated that the hands of its Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, are tied and he cannot do anything.

This is the result of the assembly’s inability to elect a presiding member, eight weeks after inauguration of the assembly.

Several attempts by the assembly to elect a presiding member from two contestants, namely, the Very Rev Isaac Twum, a government appointee, and Nana Kofi Senya, an elected candidate, have reached a deadlock since none of the two could obtain the required majority.

Investigations revealed that Mr Jumah’s hands are tied as his plans and visions for the development of the metropolis are still on the drawing board.

Reports reaching the various media houses in the metropolis indicate that the assembly’s determination to elect a presiding member on Wednesday, October 6, 2002, was also postponed indefinitely.

The postponement, according to reports, was to allow for further consultation to end the stalemate which has crippled the administration of the assembly.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Mr Albert Anthony Ampong, has explained in an interview that the postponement was to enable all stakeholders involved in the administration of the assembly to confer on the issue.

Mr Ampong did not, however, give details about who form the consultative body or even how the decision to defer the election was arrived at.

It was found out that certain New Patriotic Party (NPP) executives in the Ashanti who oppose the appointment of Mr Jumah are the major players in the creation of hurdles and difficulties faced by the assembly to elect a presiding member.

A source at KMA who spoke to Daily Guide on conditions of anonymity, observed that although he could not point accusing fingers at any specific person who is intentionally thwarting the smooth administration of Mr Jumah, he suspected that those involved are being influenced by diabolic political motives.

The source observed that the operations and functions of the assembly have been a drawback because of lack of a presiding member, using undue chances for certain unscrupulous political critics to attack and chastise the mayor.

Daily Guide’s investigations established for instance, that the ?2.5 billion, being a portion of the Highly Indebted Poor Country initiative (HIPIC) fund which the government allocated for the development of the Kumasi metropolis, is still sitting idle.

It was revealed that the money has been budgeted for projects in areas, including sanitation, health, education and rural water supply.

“It is a fact that contracts for these projects can be awarded and executed only when the metro tender board, including a presiding member evaluates them”, the source said.

It was further stated that there are large numbers of projects which have not been contracted for lack of a presiding member to be on the tender board for the awards, executions and evaluation. Daily Guide was reliably informed that the real functions of the KMA are deliberate, legislative and broad-policy-formulation.

“But none of these can take place without the involvement of a presiding member”, he said.