The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has asked the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to take appropriate steps to address the congestion at the Central Business District (CBD) to bring some sanity.

Things, he said, needed to change, be properly controlled, to restore the city to its past beauty and glory as the “Garden City of West Africa”.

He expressed discomfort with the situation where some principal streets have been completely taken over by traders - turned into markets, and said that was not befitting of a modern city.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu was inaugurating a GHc 5.5 million six-storey building constructed by the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church with funding from Multi-Credit Savings and Loans Company Limited.

It comes with banking halls and offices and forms part of the re-development of the church’s property at the CBD for commercial purposes.

The Asantehene applauded the church for the initiative and said apart from beautifying the skyline, it would significantly support business development and create wealth for the people.

He acknowledged its tremendous contribution to the socio-economic progress of the nation, citing the establishment of education institutions and provision of health facilities among others.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu encouraged the leadership not to relent in its efforts at putting to commercial use the varied assets of the church and pledged his full backing.

The Manhyia Palace, he said, would collaborate with the church to improve the quality of life of the people.

The Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, the Presiding Bishop, said they were not only concerned about the spiritual growth of the congregation, but every aspect of their socio-economic lives.

He said it was for this reason that it was investing in various viable projects, including real estate development to strengthen its finances.

The Right Rev Prof Osei Safo-Kantanka, the Diocesan Bishop, said the church, acting in partnership with the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), had set up a technical school at Offinso to provide the youth with technical skills.