2 former Kumasi mayors summoned over lease of Kejetia lands

Two former chief executives of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have been summoned before the Kumasi Traditional Council to answer questions on how they leased some Kejetia lands to private developers.

Mr Kofi Jumah and Samuel Sarpong are said to have leased the Kejetia lands to three private developers for 40 years.

The developers have put up structures on the said lands, which are said to be impeding the completion of the Kumasi Kejetia redevelopment project.

The former mayors are to appear before the Council on Monday, February 5 on the matter.

The three developers – Nana Karikari Asante, James Kofi Yeboah, and Nana Kwame Afriyie – who appeared before Council Thursday said they signed 30 to 40-year lease with the two mayors to enable them build on the land.

The contract documents they provided as evidence were been signed by the two former mayors, Coordinating Director and the Estate Officer but without the signatures of then presiding members.

Current presiding member of the KMA, Mr Abraham Boadi after studying the contract documents told the council that the MoU did not pass through the required procedure for proper rectification and deliberation by the general assembly for approval.

He said the documents were only signed by the administrative structures.

Mr Boadi indicated that the contract documents should have had the signatures of then presiding members if they had passed through the procedures as required by the local government Act.

Members of the Council then requested that the two former mayors be hauled before them to give explanation to that effect.

They are demanding former metro chief executives pay any compensation that will accrue from demolition of the structures put up on the land by the developers if the former MCEs are unable to give reasonable explanation to their action.

According to the Council, the lands were demarcated for a lorry terminal and were not given to the assembly to be released to private developers to build structures.

The chairman of the council, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI, therefore, ordered that the two former MCEs appear before them on Monday, to give explanation to the council.

He advised that when a land is released by Otumfuo for a specific purpose, it should be abide to and if the person or organization intends to use it for different purpose, the Asante Monarch has to be reminded since he owns all the lands in the Asante kingdom.

He noted that lawlessness is gaining root in Kumasi and the council will not sit-down for such thing to continue.