Kumasi Chiefs Issue Threats Over Kejetia

A team of highly revered chiefs and traditional leaders in Kumasi visited the construction site of the Kejetia Bus Terminal on Tuesday morning to get first hand information on what can be done to complete the project as a matter of urgency.

It was the first time the chiefs were visiting the construction site. They were led by the Bantamahene, Baffuo Owusu Amankwatia VI.

The chiefs left the comfort of their palaces and they had to walk for hours in the scorching sun to inspect the facility.

The Kumasi chiefs made the historic trip, ostensibly, to find out what they needed to do to help complete the Kejetia project as soon as practicable possible.

After hours of inspection, the Baffuo Owusu Amankwatia VI, expressed concern about how encroachers and squatters have surrounded the Kejetia project with buildings.

He therefore charged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to ensure that all the unapproved buildings that were obstructing the speedy completion of the Kejetia project were pulled down, immediately.

The Bantamahene noted that any developer, whose actions would obstruct the smooth and speedy completion of the Kejetia project, would not be tolerated.

He described the Kejetia project as a national asset, which would benefit the entire citizenry; therefore, the chiefs would not allow anyone to stall it.

Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, the Bantamahene, Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia VI, stated that the chiefs would not allow anybody to delay the project.

He has consequently ordered the KMA to pull down a recently constructed building at Kejetia, which is reported to belong to a certain Nana Karikari Asante, a developer.

The Bantamahene said Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene’s order to Nana Asante not to build additional houses at Kejetia were ignored.

In this regard, he urged the KMA not to pay any compensation to Nana Asante, with regards to the newly constructed building.

The building under contention is also positioned right in the middle of the road so it would adversely affect the Kejetia Bus Terminal.

Baffuor Amankwatia, addressing the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) meeting on Monday, said the Kejetia project would benefit the entire city.

He therefore stated that the chiefs would not allow anybody to adopt diabolic strategies to delay the completion of the project for the people to suffer.

The Bantamahene urged the KMA to make the necessary arrangement to evaluate and pay compensation to Nana Asante, on his other old buildings, which are also due to demolition at Kejetia.

He stated that a committee would soon be formed to work and resolve all the problems between the KMA and Nana Asante, adding, the committee would include chiefs and lawyers of KMA and nana Asante.

Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia VI said the city belongs to the chiefs and so they (chiefs) have resolved to lead the development of the city.

By: Kwadwo Essel/ thePublisher