If KMA Fails To Decongest Kumasi, Nananom Will Do It - Bantamahene Vows

The Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, has vowed to lead the mobilization of chiefs for the development of the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi if the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) fails to do so. Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI blames the KMA for the rampant mounting of kiosks and containers and allowing congestion at the city centre which he says is turning the once flourishing Garden city into a village.

Sharing his New Year message, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI pointed out that the city has become ungovernable, with perpetrators going unpunished. The Kumasi metro houses a population of 3,630,000 as at the end of 2022.

Bantamahene Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI

The city is the second-largest in Ghana, after the capital city Accra. The city was referred to as the Garden City due to its green area cover and brilliant settlement layout. Underdevelopment emanating from Issues of congestion, open space filth, street markets, and uncompleted government projects are eroding the said legacy of the city.

According to the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI, people with political authority have ignored calls for development of the city. “I had the opportunity to put this issue before the Regional Minister when he addressed the regional house.

We have nobody to blame other than the KMA and its assembly members. We know assembly members take money from these people to put up these structures. Pavements inhabited by people doing business. It has made Kumasi look like a village. Some laws must be adhered to. But once they (traders) get the authorization from the assembly and authorities,  they do not care about the authority of Nananom,” he said.