A Former Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Samuel Sarpong, has been tipped by some assembly members to succeed Kojo Bonsu as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

Dr Sarpong once occupied the hot seat between 2009 and 2012.

Even before any list could be made public, all the assembly members appear to be in favour of Sarpong who is also contesting the Nhyiaeso parliamentary seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Endorsement

Most of the assembly members, who have worked with him before said he was the best man to unite the fragmented assembly.

Sources told the Daily Graphic that Sarpong would, however, have to trade and accept the assembly’s preferred candidate, Kofi Senya, to guarantee his return.

In a related development, a group calling itself Kumasi Vigilante Media, has urged the President and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in a statement signed by its president, Antwi Bosiako, to endorse the former cadre to re-activate most development projects which have been stalled since Kojo Bonsu resigned.

Dr Sarpong is said to have initiated many of the development projects in the city, including the KNUST footbridge and some of the satellite markets.

Bonsu’s resignation

The embattled Kojo Bonsu resigned barely three weeks ago following a one-week ultimatum given by the Asanteman Traditional Council to President John Dramani Mahama to replace him or they would advise themselves.

The petition of the Asanteman Traditional Council, the highest decision-making body of Asanteman, to the President followed an allegation by the council that Mr Bonsu had slighted the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and brought his office into disrepute.

Complaint

Their action followed a complaint lodged with it by the Amoamanhene, Nana Agyin Boateng, over a letter signed by Mr Bonsu questioning his status on the Kejetia Market Committee.

The Amoamanhene was allegedly chosen by Otumfuo to be his representative on the committee which is overseeing the construction of the market.

After months of working closely with the CEO on the committee, the KMA was reported to have written to the chief that it did not have any record of his inclusion on the committee and wanted him to produce evidence of his position on the committee.

source: graphiconline