A New York-based political magnate tipped for the position of Kumasi City Mayor has underlined sanitation as his key focus if given the position.
Mr. Kwabena Manu who contested during the 2004 and 2008 NPP parliamentary primaries at Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo told this medium that the metropolis is not well positioned vis-à-vis matters related to sanitation.
He said he will bring onboard ideas to address the status-quo so as to relieve traders within the Central Business District (CBD) and residents from the attendant consequences of poor sanitation which according to him characterize most areas in Kumasi.
“Flood, poor drainage system, indiscriminate disposal of refuse etc will all be reduced to the barest minimum under my administration”, he promised.
Aside the above, he noted that with his many years of leadership experience and impact, he will set in motion developmental policies that will harness the progress of the metropolis.
“I am ready to make Kumasi the cleanest and most developed city in Africa.
Implementation of better interventions under my watch as the city Mayor will make things better.”
*WHO IS KWABENA MANU*
PROFILE
He is a tenacious, fair, firm, and focused leader who is ready to work with others to bring discipline
to the day-to-day administration of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) as its leader to
benefit the socio-economic development of Kumasi and environs.
He gained his fair-but-firm minded leadership skills through years of serving as an executive of a workers’ union in Westchester County, New York, USA.
WORK EXPERIENCE
1.Ministry of Railway
2.Development Ghana – Advisor/Consultant on Labor & Employment
Relations (March 2018 – May 2019).
3. Directed the setting up of employment and labor relations structures at the new Ministry
of Railway Development working directly with the Minister.
4. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) 1997 – 2017, President
5. Elected President of Westchester Country Government Unit 9200 on July 1, 2013 for a
4,200 member-Workers Union.
6. Presided over the executive committee at Executive Board Meetings to deliberate
members’ grievances, mediate with management, and negotiate compensation and benefits.
7. Oversaw the financial life of the Union through frequent meetings with outside auditors and internal management.
8.Reviewed and approved scholarships on a yearly basis for graduating high school students to fund university expenses.
9. Visited worksites to ascertain working conditions and ensure compliance with the terms of Collective Bargaining Agreements.
10. Maintained an annual budget surplus of $US 750,000- $US 1,000,000 in the four years of
my Presidency.
11. Received the Anthony J. Tocci Award in recognition of years of dedicated service and
devotion to working men and women of the American work force.
CSEA Vice President and Union Representative (1997 – 2012)
12. Engaged in termination and disciplinary measures by several departments of Westchester
County Government against CSEA members. The departments included: Dept of Public
Works, Dept of Environmental Facilities, Dept of Parks, Recreation and Conservation,
Dept. of Social Service, Dept of Information Technology, Dept of Human Resources,
Dept of Health, Departments of Consumer Protection, Public Safety, Finance, Probation,
The Country Clerks Office, and the Office of the Aging.
New York State CSEA Inc – March 2014 – May 2017
Member of the Statewide Executive Board.
13. Contributed to updating rules and regulations.
CSEA – Westchester Country Government unit Nov 1997 – June 2017
Member of the Negotiators Committee.
14. Negotiated collective bargaining agreements that covered salaries, working conditions,
and benefits.
The Cluster Institute – September 1992 – Oct. 1994, Certified Mediator
15. Mediated Tenant and Landlord disputes in the City of Yonkers.
Matthews and Matthews Consulting (New York), June 2006 – December 2016
Staff Member
16. Served as featured Panelist at New York University’s Round Table Labor Discussions.
17. Served as Public Speaking Instructor for Labor Union Leaders.
3G Media and Magazine – (New York), Jan. 2007 – Dec. 2015
18. Served as Editor in Chief for 3 G Magazine
Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) New York, October 1990 – Nov.
1997
Social Caseworker
19. Interceded for neglected and abused children including placing them in safer homes.
EDUCATION
Mercy College, New York 1980 – 1984
Bachelor of Science
Political Science with a minor in Journalism
The Cluster Institute, New York, 1991 – 1992
Certified – Mediator
Cornell University Institute of Labor Studies, New York 1997 – 1998
Certificate in Labor Studies.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITES
National Council of Ghanaian Associations- New York 2002 – 2006
Public Relations Officer.
Ghanaian Association of Westchester – New York 2000 – 2010
Public. Relations Officer
New Patriotic Party (NPP)
NPP-USA – New York Chapter – Public Relations Officer 1994 – 2008
NPP – NY – Chapter Senior – Advisor 2008 – 2016
Campaign Team – Ketu South 2020
Member of Parliament Primary Candidate – Nsuta / Kwamang / Beposo 2004 and 2008
Source: Thepressradio.com/Enock Akonnor
