The Ghanaian Chronicle in a front page story, says a painstaking investigation corroborated by documentary evidence, indicates that the rehabilitation of the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, has so far cost the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) 1.28 billion cedis, drawing sharp criticisms from concerned residents of the "Garden City." The paper says what seems to have triggered the anger of the people, including top executive members of the Ashanti Regional NDC, is the directive of the KMA boss, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, that a cheque for 425 million cedis be prepared and paid to the contractor, Consar Limited, for work the company had not yet executed. It says, consequently, a cheque for 425 million cedis dated October 21, 1998, has been presented to the contractor. According to the Chronicle, the contract was awarded to Consar Ltd without any competitive bidding. The paper says when it contacted Nana Akwasi Agyeman on telephone for comments on the issue, he refused to discuss the issue saying, "I am at my residence. If there is anything, come to my office."