Nana Kwame Akatii
The Assembly member for Krofrom West, Nana Kwame Akatii, who forcibly released vehicles seized by the assembly to their owners in Rambo style, has been suspended for three months.
During the three-month period, Mr Akatii cannot discharge his duties as the Assembly member for Krofrom West.
He has also been prohibited from representing the Krofrom West Electoral Area.
The Presiding Member of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Abraham Boadi aka ‘Opooman,’ read the verdict during the General Assembly Meeting of the KMA on Friday.
Mr Akatii, who attended the meeting, remained calm during the delivery of the verdict.
The important meeting was also graced by dignitaries, including the Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi.
Seized Vehicles
Reports indicated that Day and Night Towing Services has been engaged by the KMA to tow vehicles that park at unapproved areas in the city, which leads to vehicular traffic.
The company, in discharging its duties, seized about 11 mini Urvan buses which were parked wrongly at Dr. Mensah area in the Manhyia Sub-Metro that causes traffic in the area.
Day and Night Towing Services officials parked the seized cars at their garage in Adum, the Central Business District (CBD) of Kumasi in order to apply the necessary sanctions against the offenders.
Without authorization from KMA, Mr Akatii, the Sub-Metro Chairman of the area, allegedly in a Rambo style stormed the premises of the towing services company and forcibly released the keys of the cars to their owners to move away.
According to reports, Mr Akatii was extremely angry that Day and Night Towing Services did not seek his approval.
He therefore decided to release the vehicles to their owners in a show of power.
Managers of the company therefore petitioned the KMA about the issue and so the case was referred to the complaints committee.
Verdict
The KMA Complaints Committee, after its investigations, recommended a six-month suspension of Akatii.
But after deliberations, the General Assembly reduced the suspension to three months, urging Akatii to fully comply with the directives in his own interest.
Opooman stated that in Akatii’s absence, the assembly members, whose area share border with Krofrom West, would act on his behalf to ensure that Krofrom West does not lag behind in terms of development.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the towing service company has lodged a complaint with the police to investigate the theft of its items during the invasion by the assembly member at their premises.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi