Nana Kofi Senya and Kojo Bonsu
Nana Kofi Senya, the Presiding Member (PM) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has been banned from attending any event organized by the Local Government, with immediate effect.
The beleaguered PM suffered this fate after he reportedly subjected KMA boss Kojo Bonsu to serious verbal pounding right under the nose of Kwasi Opong-Fosu, Local Government Minister, on Friday morning.
Imposing the ban, Mr Opong-Fosu said the presiding member?s unruly behaviour must not be tolerated, hence his decision to ban him from all activities of the ministry to serve as a deterrent to others.
Reports gathered by the paper indicated that Hon. Senya flared up after Kojo Bonsu approached him to sign a 2011 supplementary budget of the assembly so they could deliver the document to the Ministry of Local Government.
Chaotic scenes immediately ensued, as Hon. Senya reportedly started issuing all manner of foul words on the Kumasi Mayor who was said to be shocked to the marrow over the PM?s sudden outburst.
The occasion was a Local Government Services workshop for presiding members in the Ashanti Region, held at the RCC in Kumasi.
The one-day seminar was used to train the presiding members on how to handle audit checks.
People at the scene rushed in on time to whisk the utterly outraged Senya from the scene so as to ensure that peace and orderliness prevailed at the place, temporarily.
Minutes later, Nana Senya, who was still fuming with rage, appeared on the scene again, but the people around moved in once again and restrained him to avert a possible exchange of blows.
The incident was witnessed by Mr Opong-Fosu and other important dignitaries who attended the seminar. The people present were said to be spellbound over the PM?s sudden outburst of anger but none of them uttered a word.
Later on, when order was restored for the event to commence, the Local Government Minister, in his speech, expressed shock over the behaviour of Hon. Senya.
Hon. Oppong-Fosu said even if Hon. Senya was provoked, as the PM of the KMA, he expected him to display maturity by controlling his temper; but not to shower insults on the Mayor in public.
The Minister therefore slammed the ban on Hon. Senya with regard to all organized Local Government programmes, stressing that his decision was aimed at instilling discipline and serving as warning to other members in the various assemblies.
Apology Rejected
Meanwhile, reports gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicated that Nana Senya later rendered an unqualified apology to Mr Oppong-Fosu and Kojo Bonsu for his reckless behaviour.
But other reports reaching the paper indicated that the Local Government Minister said mere apology was not enough for him to withdraw the ban imposed on the PM.
Mr. Oppong-Fosu said the Presiding Member openly used ?unprintable words? on the KMA boss.
?I was with the Chief Executive of KMA when an incident occurred between him and his officials on one hand and the presiding member over the signing of a document?the presiding member flared up and used all kinds of unprintable words and was physically restrained from going beyond the words that he was using on the Chief Executive,? Mr. Oppong-Fosu told Joy FM.
According to the Minister, no matter the extent of provocation, Nana Senya ought to have demonstrated ?modest temperament?.
The minister said his outfit would not tolerate acts of gross disrespect from any staff of the assembly, ?so long as I remain the Minister? of Local Government and Rural Development.
?He has apologised though but I don?t think that?s enough?the ban will remain in force,? the Minister stressed.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
