The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has taken over the management of the Afia Kobi Market, one of thepopular market arenas in Kumasi.
Addressing an end of year media encounter, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Kumasi, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi noted the move is to ensure proper management of the place.
According to him, the Assembly has renegotiated the private public partnership arrangement it had with one Thomas Kwabena Braimah, a private investor who managed the arena on behalf of the KMA.
However, a new arrangement which is being drafted, the Mayor stressed will have the Assembly and the Private investor share revenue generated from the market.
The Assembly, Mr Assibey revealed has been getting an amount of GHC20, 000 from the popular market every month.
REVENUE LEAKAGES:
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper later, the KMA boss expressed the commitment of his administration to plug all leakages in the area of revenue collection at the Assembly.
This, he noted is to ensure the Assembly gets enough revenue from what the collect to undertake projects it will embark on this year.
In a startling disclosure, the Mayor said the efforts and field work of the Revenue Management Team has led to the discovery of huge number of General Counterfoil Receipts (GCRs) which are unauthorized but was being used on the field.
He also noted that some GCRs meant for use at a particular sub-metro council were surprisingly found at other sub-metro councils.
These unusual and strange anomalies, Mr Assibey noted is being compiled and submitted to the relevant investigative agencies for necessary actions to be taken against those who will be found culpable.
MEDIA:
The Mayor commended the media for probing into the activities of the Assembly at all times without hindrance.
This, he mentioned is a good practice since that will ensure those given mandates to administer offices at the Assembly does exactly that.
He urged practitioners to continue to collaborate with the Assembly to ensure the activities and programs planned by the KMA is properly explained to the public.
He, however, rallied the media to cross-check information about the activities of the Assembly with the Public Relations Outfit so they can effectively disseminate same to the public.
