Asanteman Council to summon minister

Kumasi, Feb. 18, GNA - The Asanteman Traditional Council has decided to invite the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLRD) to brief the house on the processes and procedures used in the creation of new districts and citing of district capitals.

The decision follows the controversy that had characterized the selection of towns as capitals for the newly-created districts. Some of the chiefs had expressed concern about the issue as well as the alleged non-consultation with traditional councils on important decisions taken by district assemblies in their traditional areas. The chiefs said at their first meeting for the year in Kumasi on Monday that there was the need for thorough understanding of the issue in order to ease tension and agitations going on in some communities.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Asantehene and President of the Council, said it was important for chiefs to understand the processes and procedures that were followed in the selection of towns as district capitals. Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed concern about the refusal of Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs to register chiefs who had been elevated to paramountcies by the Golden Stool and tasked the Asanteman Standing Committee to take up the matter and resolve the issue.

He advised the chiefs to let the development of their communities be of prime concern to them instead of litigating.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu told kingmakers to follow the laid down procedures and processes in the selection and installation of chiefs to reduce disputes in Asanteman.