Property owners ignore KMA directive

A directive issued by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to property owners in the city to paint their buildings has been ignored.

Whilst the KMA claims that the assembly's by-laws mandate property owners to paint their buildings every two years, most residents believe that the directive has been occasioned by the fact that Kumasi has been chosen as one of the venues for the Ghana 2008 tournament in January.

Most people also questioned how the KMA is going to enforce the directive and who is going to determine which building has not been painted for two years.

Others have also questioned the KMA's own culture of maintenance as many of its buildings notably, the Waste Management Department and the Birth and Deaths Registry offices are in a dilapidated state.

Concerns have been raised about the success of the assembly's decongestion exercise as the hawkers who were evicted from the Central Business District have returned and doing brisk business.

Also disturbing is the increase in the number of lunatics roaming the city and the attendant nuisance and filth they create.

In a related development, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has assured residents and visitors of adequate security during the Ghana 2008 tournament.

Inspector Mohammed Tanko of the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Unit who gave the assurance said that enough security personnel have been given the required training to maintain law and order during the period and even after.

He therefore cautioned criminals and other miscreants who would want to take advantage of the occasion to perpetuate their heinous activities and cause mischief and confusion in the metropolis to abandon the idea.

Inspector Tanko said for the police to carry out these duties efficiently, a lot would depend on members of the public who should volunteer information on activities of the criminal elements in the society.