Kumasi, June 20, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, has charged the authorities of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to gather the necessary political will to sustain the ongoing decongestion exercise in the metropolis.

He said the leadership of the Assembly should not be afraid of the political consequences of the exercise but rather muster the courage to demolish all buildings and structures cited on waterways and unauthorised places to ensure sanity in the city. Addressing a meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, also urged chiefs in Kumasi to support the Assembly to ensure the successful decongestion exercise in the city.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah and his Deputy, Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi attended the meeting. The Asantehene said there was the need for all to understand that, citing of structures at unauthorized places and buildings along waterways were illegal and therefore, their demolition was the necessary thing to be done to ensure that people adhered to laid down rules and regulations in the city.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the time had come to tell the people the truth that they could no longer do things the way they wanted but should follow right procedures in order to promote discipline in society and called for a passionate discussion on the decongestion exercise, while urging residents to desist from politicising the issue. He charged chiefs to ensure they had the proper layouts of lands they wanted to sell to ensure proper planning in their communities.

The Asantehene urged the chiefs not to always think about the money they would get today but think about the future population growth and other service requirements of their communities before they begin to sell lands for estate development in their areas. He called for the early release of funds for the completion of the office complex of the House.

Mr Owusu-Ansah expressed concern about the increasing spate of chieftaincy disputes in the Region and called on the judicial committee of the House to expedite action on chieftaincy cases that were brought before it to ensure peace in the Region. He also spoke against the current trend of indiscipline in society, adding that, indiscipline impeded development and stressed the need for concerted efforts by all to curb the wave of indiscipline in society. Mr Owusu-Ansah lauded the continued partnership between the chiefs and the government in the development process and said that had contributed immensely to the speedy growth and development of the nation.

He said the chieftaincy institution, which was highly revered in the Asante kingdom was the embodiment of the traditions and culture of the people and expressed the hope that the chiefs would continue to assist the government to initiate programmes that would promote development in their communities.

The Regional Minister commended the Asantehene for his initiatives in education, health and the environment as well as culture and said that had complemented the government's effort at promoting education and development in the country.

Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Asante Mamponghene, who is the chairman of the House's Standing Committee, said the House would invite the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission to brief members on some pertinent issues, which were bothering the chiefs, especially in the areas of royalty payments and concessions.