MCE of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, has asserted that his leadership has been crucial in preventing the Assembly from collapsing under poor management.
In an interview on Abusua Fm in Kumasi, hosted by Kojo Marfo, the Kumasi Mayor revealed that his prior experience with Assemblies was instrumental in stabilising operations at the KMA.
He admitted that coming into the role without such knowledge would have made the challenges impossible to overcome.
“I didn’t know exactly what was at KMA initially, but having an understanding of how Assemblies function helped me to get things moving quickly,” he explained. “If it hadn’t been me, anyone else stepping into this role would have failed.”
When asked about the confidence behind this bold claim, Boadi described the dire state of affairs he inherited.
“The mess was unimaginable. Accounts had been garnished, so access to funds was blocked. Waste management was a huge problem. Without prior experience, your head will even pain you, it would have been terrible. I was able to manage because I was familiar with how the system works.”
He added that even now, the Assembly relies heavily on his hands-on experience to continue managing complex challenges.
“It would have been disastrous otherwise,” Boadi claimed, pressing further on the severity of the Assembly’s condition and emphasising that lack of experience could have led to total failure.
“Even if someone had the best academic credentials, like a PhD, they would have struggled in this environment. It takes time, about two to three months to learn the ropes. Without proper knowledge, inefficiencies would have worsened.”
Boadi highlighted sanitation and congestion as key issues, noting the halt of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) program that once employed 520 people to maintain cleanliness in Kumasi.
“The technocrats only take action when directed. If a new leader isn’t familiar with the system, nothing happens. The KMA is the country’s second most populous city after Accra. The stakes are very high.”
