Local governance expert, Dr Eric Oduro Osae, has advised the newly confirmed Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly boss, Sam Pyne, to be a team player in his new portfolio.
Speaking in an interview after the confirmation of Sam Pyne, he revealed that there were initial concerns from the “warning and signal the assembly members at KMA sent”.
That notwithstanding, Dr Osae indicated that he is happy assembly members agreed and “unanimously approved the mayor”. He revealed that the decision by the assembly to approve him should serve as a note of caution not to be dictatorial in his duties.
“The advice to the mayor now is that he should be a team player, he should be a unifier, he should listen to the sentiments of the people… I’m very sure that if he adds Kojo Bonsu’s advice to it, he’ll be a perfect mayor. All in all, we are seeing a lot of hundred percent unanimous approval across the country and I pray that it continues… That is what it means for effective local governance.
“The message it sends to these approved MMDCEs is that you shouldn’t come and lord it over the people. Do what the people need, think outside the box and ensure that you bring proper local governance to the people”.
Dr Eric Oduro Osae
Build consensus among people in KMA
Although Sam Pyne has been confirmed as the new KMA boss, there are concerns as to whether he’s competent to brace the challenges.
Commenting on this, the local governance expert advised him to “build consensus among all the people”. This, he noted, can be achieved through interactions with traditional authorities, the assembly members and those in the electoral areas.
Dr Osae further advised Sam Pyne to diligently work to resolve some challenges within the municipality for the people to “feel safe to do business”.
“Secondly, he should be a leader who can think outside the box. KMA means a lot of things, KMA requires a strategic leader, KMA requires somebody who will be able to mobilize adequate resources not only from taxation but from other resources. So, I think that he should be a tough leader. Not tough in terms of undermining democracy and people’s freedom. And I think he will be fine because the people in Kumasi expect nothing but the best and the best comes in when you are able to bring in the development they need. Sanitation must be a priority… and ensuring that the debt issue they raised is adequately investigated. So that if there is the need to mobilize resources from somewhere or work with government for the debt to be cleared, he does that”.
Confirmation of Sam Pyne as KMA boss
Ashanti Region Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sam Pyne, has been confirmed as the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).
Voting by Assembly members on Tuesday, October 5, saw Sam Pyne polling 55 out of 58 votes to secure a landslide victory. Two members of the Assembly were however, absent from the voting exercise.
His confirmation comes after threats by some Assembly members who threatened to reject President Akufo-Addo’s nominee as a result of debt left by successive administrations.
Presiding Member of the metropolis in the Ashanti Region, Samuel Ofori, threatened that if the GH¢50 million debt owed by the Assembly is not cleared, he and the other members will reject President Akufo-Addo’s nominee.
President Akufo-Addo speaking in an interview on his final day on his tour of the region, revealed that it will be wrong to make Sam Pyne a “victim of the past”.
Following his win, Mr Pyne assured that he has been in talks with the Ministry of Finance and other key stakeholders including the Chief of Staff to have the debt settled.
“Before the President’s pronouncement, we had taken steps. I had visited the Chief of Staff and she had spoken to the President and he knew [about the situation]. That one did the magic too”.
Mr Sam Pyne
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