Kumasi, Jan. 7, GNA - The Asante United Front (AUF), a pressure group dedicated to the development of Asanteman, has appealed to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to set up a committee to plan and implement a re-development scheme for communities surrounding the Manhyia palace. The vicinity of the Palace, the seat of the Asante King, needs to be face-lifted to boost its attraction, the group said. This is contained in a New Year message signed by Opanin Kwame Afreh, Chairman of the AUF, in Kumasi on Thursday.

It expressed dissatisfaction with the haphazard and indiscriminate buildin= g of structures at places such as Alabar and said some level of sanity must b= e restored. The statement said the KMA should liaise with the Asantehene's Secretariat to develop a plan to uplift and beautify those areas.

The group commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, for his foresight an= d pledged their unflinching support towards the successful implementation of all development programmes he had lined up. It also praised the KMA Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong, for the humane manner the Assembly had carried out its decongestion exercise.