Calm At Accra Metropolitan Assembly

The mounting tension at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has given way to appreciable calm following advice from the Local Government Minister, Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, to its members. Mr Opong-Fosu told members of the assembly to either settle their internal differences or risk having the assembly dissolved. Before his advice, however, the Presiding Member, Mr Desmond Addo Biney, had already rendered an apology to the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Vanderpuye, over a memo he wrote to him but was wrongly copied to the Greater Accra Regional Minister and other external entities. Mr Addo Biney told the Daily Graphic that there was a renewed determination by a majority of the assembly to unite and work in harmony. That, he explained, was necessary if the assembly must achieve the dreams and aspirations of the people it is mandated to serve. He said he had already met Dr Vanderpuye after last Thursday's meeting to deliberate on some developmental issues, adding that all was now calm. A member of the assembly, Mr Adzebu Lamptey, also described the situation at the AMA as calm. Mr Addo Biney has about two months to end his second term in office, and according to Mr Adzebu, it was only fair that they worked with him to the end. Members of the assembly had in an earlier meeting moved a motion to pass a vote of no confidence in Mr Addo Biney. " That motion is hanging and Mr Addo Biney, must therefore, call a meeting to resolve it."