"Garden city" now "unholy city"

Kumasi - The city of Kumasi that used to be known as the 'garden city' of West Africa is now one of the dirtiest due to the proliferation of refuse dumps and general filth.

Traders who sell at Kejetia are now using it as a place of convenience. The roundabout that was evergreen is now a desert that trotro drivers have turned into a lorry station.

Construction work on the dual carriage road that runs from the central market through the Cultural Centre to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has come to a halt and hawkers have taken over the road. The contractors say they do not get a fair deal when their work is completed and this has necessitated their undertaking more than three projects at the same time.

The filth and poor sanitation has aroused royal concern. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has taken his sub-chiefs to task for not bringing the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly boss, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, to book for mismanaging the city. The tolls collected from market men and women, he noted, should be used to develop the places in which they operate.

Some of the chiefs however blame the Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Nuamah Donkor, for not fulfilling his promise to turn Kumasi into a haven of peace, unity and neatness within six months of is assuming office.

Many people are optimistic that the concern of the Asantehene will wake those responsible up from their slumber for the city to regain its old glory.