Newly sworn-in assembly members of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) have hurled an attack against government tooth and nail for kicking them out of role in the ongoing distribution of food to needy people in areas under the restriction of movement directive.
Just this morning at about 11:30am at a mini conference room of the assembly, honorable members of KMA numbering close to thirty were boiling with rage amidst emotional expressions of disappointment in authorities.
They voiced out to leakynews.net that it appears that government does not recognize the relevance of their role anymore since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana.
“We realized this when government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection commenced the distribution of food to the disadvantaged” they informed.
Giving more credence to their dilemma, they told leakynews.net during a press briefing that they were not served a notice by authorities of the assembly prior to the time of arrival of the food items in the region and at the metropolis.
“…the foodstuff arrived just yesterday 7:00 Pm and even it was our presiding member who gave us the hint this morning”, Hon Akwasi Appiah, Patasi Assembly man disclosed.
They made known to this medium that when they reported in the morning at the assembly to have a look at the items meant for their various electoral area, they were shocked to their bones after discovering that the items had long ago been distributed by authorities to Coordinators, MPs and party faithful without their knowledge.
” We were not involved in whatever transpired in the morning and again we were not given any role to play in the distribution. Since Covid-19 came to Ghana, state authorities don’t involve us in whatever they do in our electoral areas as though they know our jurisdictions much more than us”, they indicated.
In a wild toned voiced, the assembly members kicked against groups selected by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as the only collaborative partners for the dispensing of the foodstuff.
“…those allotted a role in the distribution do they know our electoral areas more than us? Can they identify those who are needy in our electoral areas much more than us…I mean why should the ministry give out the items to only NADMO coordinators, religious leaders and others? Sorry to say there is no wisdom in this”, Hon Akwasi Appiah fingered.
“For some of us we have served NPP for long. During seasons of political campaigns they are always in search for assembly members to assist them in campaign but now we have realized for ourselves that when it came to matters related to food distribution in our own electoral areas, they have relegated us to the dust bin”, he regretfully indicated.
Addressing the media, the Presiding member for KMA disclosed that residents in their various areas are currently putting pressure on them for their share of the food items as though they have received some items from government. ”…We have no food in our custody…even the whole Kumasi metro received just 5000 pieces of 5kilos of rice and that every electoral area will be receiving just 125 pieces. ”, he announced.
By Enock Akonnor
