The cost of contruction of one of Ghana’s modern parks in Kumasi, the Rattray Park has set the Mayor and some Assembly members on collision course with the latter calling for the arrest of the former for misappropriating funds.

But Mayor Kojo Bonsu says he is ready to face any probe on expenses made on the Rattray Park and management of revenue accruing from it .

After a recent declaration by the Mayor that the Rattray Park cost 4.4 million US Dolllars, he has come under intense attack as some assembly members call for his head over alleged misappropriation of funds.

They also accuse him of diverting funds meant for priority projects into non-priority projects of the assembly.

The aggrieved assembly members say Mr Kojo Bonsu overspent in far excess of the approved budgetary allocation meant for the Rattray Park project.

Krofrom West Assembly Member, Nana Kwame Obeng Akatii is the leader of the aggrieved assembly members.

In an interview with Luv News, he insists the Mayor should declare breakdown on expenditure on the park and account for revenue accrued from its operations.

But the Mayor has dismissed the allegations, describing them as baseless, hollow and unfounded.

“There was never any act of financial impropriety in the construction of Ghana’s premier park, the Rattray Park which has become the preferred destination for relaxation for the people of Kumasi and beyond”, Samuel Gyamfi, an Aide to the Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu has told a press conference Monday.

He says the assembly followed all due processes permitted by law in expending funds on the project.

But in what appears to be a contradiction, Mr Gyamfi admits the assembly spend beyond the approved budgetary allocations insisted that act is not an illegality.

“It is not strange, it is not illegal, it is not criminal for an institution of state to exceed its budget because of fluctuations and unanticipated variations which always happen. But we are saying that in exceeding our budget we followed the due process of the law. We followed the procurement Act; we followed the Financial Administration Act-our accounts are there. Our internal audit department is auditing it, the Auditor General will audit it and a report will be forwarded to the august house of Parliament for further scrutiny”. The Mayor’s Aide, Samuel Gyamfi insisted.

According to him, revenue from the park is protected with the introduction of stringent measures such as the institution of board of directors in place to strictly manage the park under law.

“Its one revenue outlet of the assembly, we are using counterfoil receipts from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department which we are accounting for, we have a strong financial department there and the park has a strong board headed by wife of the Asantehene Lady Julia”. Mr Gyamfi has said.