Kumasi, Aug. 31, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on chiefs to stay away from government's acquired lands in their communities.

Those lands are meant for specific purposes and must remain as such. The Asantehene was receiving the newly posted Ashanti Regional Lands Officer, Nana Kwapong Aboa II, to his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said any encroachment or attempt to forcibly take back such lands was an infraction of the law. He said if for whatever reasons they would need part of it the right and proper thing to do would be to dialogue with and seek approval from the appropriate authority. A press statement signed by Mr G.B. Osei Antwi, Media Relations Officer at the palace said the Asantehene also underlined the need for them to assist developers to secure title deeds for their property in line with the law.

This was necessary to help prevent revenue losses to the state through non-payment of property rates. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed discomfort with the growing numbers of buildings in the Kumasi Metropolis that were without titles.

He encouraged the staff of the Lands Department to cooperate with the new head to ensure efficiency. Nana Aboa pledged hard work and diligence to improve land administration in the region.