No Cars For Assemblymen -KMA

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has flatly debunked media reports suggesting that each elected assembly member would receive a saloon car.

According to the KMA, the reports were meant to throw dust into the eyes of the public and also create unnecessary tension and enmity towards the assembly.

The report indicated that KMA, under the leadership of the Osei Assibey Antwi, the Chief Executive is to purchase cars for each elected assemblyman in Kumasi.

It said the assembly was in talks with Hyundai Motors and Investment Ghana to procure the saloon cars for the assembly members.

It also stated that the KMA would deduct allowances of the beneficiary assemblymen to defray the huge cost of the vehicles to boost their work in their respective electoral areas.

KMA, in a press release authored by the PRO Godwin Okumah Nyame, said “the information is not only misleading and fabricated, but well drafted to throw dust into the eyes of the public and dent the positive image of the KMA and the Kumasi Mayor.”

Okumah Nyame added that the KMA Chief Executive cannot unilaterally take a decision to purchase vehicles for the assemblymen without the prior approval of the KMA General Assembly, saying the “story is palpably false.”

He added that “the public must therefore take note that the KMA has not entered into any agreement with any company to purchase cars for the elected assemblymen in the KMA, as being purported in the media.”

Automobile Companies Visits
Okumah Nyame said even though it is true that officials of the Hyundai Motors and Investment Ghana visited the KMA recently, the visit had nothing to do with a vehicle deal.

According to him, Hyundai Motors officials, during the visit, explained to the KMA management that they sell their cars to credible institutions and individuals on high purchase basis “and that was all, we did not agree on any car deal terms with them.”

Mr Nyame indicated that Hyundai Motor and Investment Ghana is not the only automobile company that had visited the KMA in recent times to showcase their products.

“It will be recalled that Kantanka Automobile Company Ltd also visited the KMA some few days ago to showcase its products to the KMA management,” the KMA PRO noted, urging the public to reject the false reports.

He said the KMA, under the leadership of Osei Assibey Antwi, has adopted an open-door policy to help journalists crosscheck their information with the assembly before publication to avert preventable blunders.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi