Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is “angry” with the chief executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr. Kojo Bonsu, over a letter written to Nananom in connection with the ongoing Kejetia-Central Market Redevelopment Project.
Consequently, a section of the Assembly members, at a press briefing yesterday, called for the resignation of Mr. Bonsu, because they described the letter as “showing gross disrespect to the Golden Stool and Manhyia Palace”.
It was gathered that the Asanteman Council, was said to have set up a committee with the Chief of Amoama, Nana Agyemang Boateng, representing Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to work hand-in-hand with the KMA to ensure fairness in the distribution of the stores to their real owners.
The committee is said to have realised that the initial $198 million, for the project was exhausted and funding was becoming a problem, and had with support of the KMA, taken some steps to solicit funds for some aspects of the project, which had seen about 2,000 of the stores completed, and were being sold at GH¢25, 000.00 instead of the recommended fee of GH¢1, 500.00.
The Chief of Amoama, was said to have contacted Mr. Bonsu to reduce the fee which did not go down well with the Chief Executive, who replied him in a letter dated June 13, 2016.
The letter partly read, “though you have made a number of representations to the effect that you are the representative/liaison of Manhyia Palace, and for that matter Nananom on the ongoing Kejetia/ Central Market Redevelopment Project, unfortunately, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has no formal notification of your status on the Kejetia Project.”
“Regarding some steps you have taken to solicit funds for some aspects of the project, we would also be grateful if you could update us on such a role and how you are to be reimbursed.”
“For the avoidance of doubt also, you are advised to consult this office before carrying out any activity connected with the project.”
At the press briefing, the spokesperson, Nana Kofi Senyah, said “we, the assembly members feel duty-bound to state categorically that we distance ourselves from the letter written and forwarded unilaterally and recklessly to Nananom by Mr Bonsu and take this opportunity to register our displeasure and accordingly apologise to Manhyia Palace and by extension the occupant of the Golden Stool.”
He said the assembly members view the recent development as an attempt by Mr. Bonsu, in connivance with others to prevent transparency in the allocation of the stores in order to extort monies from the public.
They called on anyone who has paid GH¢25, 000.00 to go to the chief executive for refund of their monies.
“We are convinced without any doubt that Mr. Bonsu is inimical to the development of Kumasi and had, therefore, sought to bring the Assembly into public ridicule and disrepute.”
They stressed “it is the same Manhyia Palace whose intervention saved a worsening situation when the Kejetia redevelopment exercise was to commence, and, we cannot deny that Mr. Bonsu had shown gross disrespect to the Golden Stool.”
The Ghanaian Times called the chief of Amoama for more details, but he pleaded to first contact Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development before passing any comment.
Mr. Okumah Nyame, the Public Relations Officer of the KMA, when contacted said “we are not responding now, but at the appropriate time.”
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