I Can�t Put My Life In Danger - KMA Mayor

THE KUMASI Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Kojo Bonsu, has finally broken his silence on controversies surrounding his refusal to move into the official residence allocated to his office, contending that the place, in its current situation, poses security threats. The Kumasi Mayor says he fears for his personal security and would, therefore, not act in a haste to occupy the residency and expose himself to danger. Mr. Kojo Bonsu, therefore, intimated that until he is 100 percent sure of his security and knows that the place is safe, he would not move in. The KMA Boss has refused to move into the plush residence, located at Ellis Avenue, Ahodwo, two years after assuming office and has been using the Foreign Ministry Residence, located close to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). There were several conspiracy theories about his refusal to occupy the building, which was renovated by his predecessor for several millions of cedis, with some allegedly claiming that the former Football Administrator had not moved into the residency for fear of the �unknown�. After some public outcry, including concerns that the Mayor was perching on a property that belongs to the Foreign Ministry, his spokesperson, Sammy Gyamfi, was quoted as saying that the place had been taken over by cockroaches and rats, hence his boss� inability to occupy the residency until full renovation had been done. But, the KMA Mayor told Kwame Adinkrah, host of ANGEL FM Breakfast show yesterday that, all the fuss about his refusal to move into the outlandish building, which was occupied by his predecessor, Hon. Dr. Samuel Sarpong, is unnecessary because it will do a little to change his decision. �I think that should not be the issue of concern; the most important question that should be asked are; Is the Mayor performing? Am I performing my duties as expected of me, I can say yes, I have done excellently well as a Chief Executive Officer,� he boasted. Mr. Kojo Bonsu contended that the argument that his predecessor stayed in the place before being re-assigned does not wash, because �We are two different people; I said the place is not safe and I cannot put my life in danger. Some of us have already sacrificed enough for this country and I can�t joke with my precious life�. The KMA Boss also opened up on rumours about the uneasy relationship between him and his predecessor, now the Regional Minister, stating emphatically that he has good personal relationship with Dr. Sarpong and downplayed attempts by some individuals to knock their heads together. �I think some people in Kumasi like unnecessary speculations; that I am not in good terms with the Regional Minister and that we don�t see eye to eye; these are all figment of people�s imaginations. No matter what happens, Dr. Sarpong remains my senior, the experience that he has, I don�t have even a quarter of that and I respect him so much,� he noted. The KMA Boss also spoke of how he has brought discipline, productivity and efficiency to the assembly since his arrival, citing the introduction of the daily biometric duty registration and the CCTV camera which monitor operations of all staff in the Assembly.