Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Angry

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has taken exception to reported cases of illegal sale of lands by some individuals to traders and families to mount kiosks at Akwatia Line, a Muslim-dominated area in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Speculations were rife that without the approval of city authorities, some people were unlawfully selling the pieces of land at GH¢40.

Within the space of a few days, about 200 kiosks sprouted up in the area near the railway line which was recently beautified following the decongestion exercise embarked upon by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

Owners of the kiosks allegedly used it as homes where they slept and dined with their families while others also used it to sell their wares.

In a speech read on behalf of the Asantehene by Nana Ampofo Kyei Bafuor II, the Asemhene, during a grand durbar to climax a three-day 12th National Da'wa of Ahlussunna Wal-Jama'a in Kumasi on Sunday, Otumfuo said the trend was unfortunate, and that mounting of kiosks was making the area grubby.

Considering that international leaders would soon throng the city to partake in Otumfuo's 10th Anniversary celebrations on the Golden Stool, the Asante King called for an immediate stop to this development.

He cautioned that if the trend continued, he would instruct the appropriate authorities to decongest the place to help beautify it.

Otumfuo urged Muslim leaders in the area to intervene by admonishing those who were illegally selling the lands to put a stop to it. He also advised those whose kiosks were already on the lands, to vacate the place immediately in their own interest.

He implored those who were seeking land to operate their businesses or build houses to contact the appropriate authorities to prevent them from getting into trouble.

The Asantehene urged residents in the metropolis to shun rancour and rather throw their weight behind any person appointed by the ruling government to head the KMA.

Beside promoting peace and unity, he said, this would also go a long way to expedite the city's development to an appreciable level to the admiration and delight of all and sundry.

The event was under the theme, “Propagation and Moral Upbringing as Espoused in the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed”.

Otumfuo commended the Ahlussunna Wal-Jama'a for continually playing pivotal roles to bring Ghana to its current state, urging them to sustain their good works.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi