Sir, congratulations on your latest award. I am particularly happy because when I read that you had been nominated for the award, I was highly optimistic that you will return with some cash and a plaque. So when I read the news that Sunday morning that you had received the award, I was least surprised.
Hard work pays. I have heard that from my mother so many times. She goes out of her way to reward us, sometimes with cash for sweeping our rooms and keeping the house tidy. Your work is no different; only harder. Keeping Accra tidy with all its people is no easy job. That is why I think you deserve the honour sir.
I was surprised, however, to see that you didn’t put up billboards announcing your nomination. This way, you would have kept us all updated – and probably, streaming the events live on TV. Maybe, you weren’t as confident of winning as I was.
Sir, congratulations again.
Accra’s inhabitants have been defiant. Hawkers will not stay off the streets, no matter how hard you try. See, the Pedestrians Shopping Mall you built for them, still has empty stalls.
But can you blame them, sir? Your own men who make up the AMA taskforce have formed an “alliance” with them; a “nokofio alliance” which allows them to “chop small” on the streets.
I am very sure you are already aware of this. If not, how can you explain the presence of a taskforce member who stands and chats freely with a meat pie seller on the streets of Circle while munching on some of her goods? How is it also that the earrings seller gets her items seized into waiting trucks while the meat pie seller comfortably sits and sells?
The good news however is, you don’t always spend your time in your plush air-conditioned office like most of your colleague appointees do. You get your hands dirty, sir, and I love you for that. You remove your suit and jump into dense traffic to direct drivers who lose their brains when traffic lights are faulty.
I hear you even stand by your security post at the gates of AMA and check your workers who report late to work. I’m only wondering why you haven’t invited the media to cover this other achievement of yours, which has ensured that your workers report early; but well, dose off when they are tired and still eat waakye in leaves in their offices, staying oblivious to the fact that your huge office is a public space with people trooping there anytime.
Maybe, you should also add such random checks to ensure sanity; after all, if those in managerial positions know their job that well, you would not substitute as a security guard in the first place.
Mayor, I’ve also come to recognize your hands on approach in ensuring a clean Accra. I know you played an active role in the institution of a national sanitation day exercise. Forget the fact that people have still not come to embrace this day fully. But I know that as long as you continue to arrest drivers who honk at you while you are cleaning, they will come to appreciate your hard work and join you on Saturday, June 6, 2015 and after.
Talking about arrests, can you please update me on what happened with that recalcitrant trotro driver who had the guts to honk at you on the first day the exercise started? I’m sure he learnt his lesson.
Mayor, do you know your city was the worst hit in the last cholera outbreak that rocked the country? I’m told we are still recording cases. If you ask me, sir, this has cast a slur on the award. I have been asking myself how this could be after all that you have stepped out to do yourself. But you are only one man and there is only much you can do.
Sometimes, I’m left to conclude that you are “usurping” the work of your subordinates – adwumawura.
I know another big headache you have in your work as Chief Executive of Accra Metropolis is flooding. I have not lived much on this earth myself, but I have seen flooding all of my life. You cannot take the blame for this, but you have said that you will do something about it. I know, I know the naughty citizens will always make your work difficult- but as long as the buck stops with you sir, can you do something about it?
As I write this letter to you, the rains have started and a few areas have began flooded already. People have lost some items. The next time you tour a flooded area, I can bet I know what your exact words are going to be. Sir, they won’t be different from what you said last year and the year before it.
Pause, take a cue from your boss, the President; stop managing the problem like the others before you had done and fix it.
I’m smiling sir, because I know you are capable of fixing it by the end of the year. Sir, this is important oo, because we in Accra can no longer contend with dumsor and flooding at the same time. One problem at a time will ease our suffering.
Sir, you are capable. You changed and unchanged the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch in a matter of days. Please use the same magic wand, to solve Accra’s perennial flooding okay.
I will not bother you with a long write-up. I know the Electoral Commission’s recklessness in organizing the next District Assembly Elections has left you with difficulties running the Assembly without your men. Don’t mind the Afari man, if only he had stepped out to ensure the right things were done like how you do it, we would not have been in this mess.
Anyway, congratulations once again sir. Your billboards are beautiful- how long are you going to keep them up sir? Please ignore all those taking photos of them and splashing them on social media. They would have done the same if they were in your shoes. Flaunt what you got mayor… just flaunt it.
Sincerely
Eugenia Tenkorang,
Resident of Accra
By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana