You are here: HomeNews2003 06 05Article 37364

General News of Thursday, 5 June 2003

Source: Statesman

KMA Condemns Busia Foundation

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has condemned the Busia Foundation for announcing that it will erect a statue of Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia at the Suame roundabout in Kumasi when it had not officially informed the assembly.

The KMA says while it fully supports the Foundation and its initiatives to immortalize the achievements of the distinguished scholar and statesman, failure to seek its prior consent and approval has caused its management some amount of embarrassment.

A statement signed by the KMA’s Public Relations Officer, Kwame Frimpong said the Assembly regards this development as a serious anomaly for which the Busia Foundation has to take steps to rectify.

''Statutorily speaking, it is the KMA through its affiliate agencies and departments that has the mandate to give approval for the re-designation of important landmarks such as the Suame roundabout in the metropolis'', the statement said.

According to the KMA, it has been unable to answer the numerous enquiries that have arisen from the publications because it was deprived of the benefit of prior consultation by the Foundation.

''Consequently, the Busia Foundation would be most advised to seek the official input and mandate of the Assembly in determining how the distinguished national icon could be honoured in the Kumasi metropolis. This is very critical as far as the success of its programmes for honouring the memory of Dr Busia is concerned'', the statement concluded.