The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has formed a seven-person committee to look into charges of corruption against the chief executive, Madam Elizabeth Kwaatso Sackey.
Following a Special General Assembly Meeting on February 20, 2023, the Committee was established.
The Committee, which is led by Mr. Ibrahim Tettey Ankrah, an assemblyman from the Okai Koi South sub-Kantseian Metro’s Electoral Area, is due to produce a report in two weeks.
The decision was made to allow the Mayor a fair hearing, according to Mr. Alfred Asiedu Adjei, Presiding Member for the Assembly, who revealed this in an interview.
Last Monday, eleven Assembly members were given notice of a proposal to vote against the Accra mayor.
The Mayor was accused by the Assemblymen of a number of activities, including procurement violations, abandoning initiatives in the area that her predecessor had initiated, nepotism, and using coercion and transfer threats to stifle any disagreements among the AMA employees.
Mr Adjei said, even though the Assemblymen had the right to initiate a vote of no confidence against any leader of the Assembly, including the Mayor, due process must be followed.
According to him, when one-third members of the Assembly triggered the removal of any leader of the Assembly, the Presiding Member had seven days to call for a meeting to debate the issues raised, as well as, set up a Committee to investigate the matter.
“So, the Assembly Members decided that they want a seven-member Committee, which a motion was moved and seconded,” He stated.
He added that “the Committee also agreed that they should be given two weeks, that is, ten working days for them to come up with their findings.”
He claimed that throughout the course of the two weeks, the Committee was supposed to summon the Mayor or a representative to address the concerns voiced by the disgruntled Assembly Members.
“So, they have two main points of reference; to give audience to the Mayor or representative of the Mayor and to advice the general house as to the next step that should be taken and that advice is also subject to the approval of the highest governing body, the general assembly,” Mr Adjei stated.
“For instance, they raised the issue about procurement. She is entitled to come with the Procurement Director of AMA, issues about physical projects, and the Works Department, she is entitled to that. So, that is the level we are at now.”
“Until the Committee comes out with its report, we all have to hold our guns and wait for the outcome of the Committee’s report.”
Also, the Presiding Member warned the Assembly Members against making any more public statements on the subject because doing so would undermine the Committee’s investigation and conclusions.
“My advice is not only to the Assemblymen but also to the general public that, we should not be prejudicial to the Committee’s report. Let’s wait, when the Committee’s report is out then we can say what we want to say,” He advised.