KMA, Lands Commission dispute settled

Tension which was mounting between the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Lands Commission in Kumasi has been defused after the timely intervention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku.

Hostility between the two institutions began on Thursday when the Lands Commission destroyed an iron fence the KMA had constructed to demarcate a land in Kumasi.

The KMA wants to develop the said land, which is located opposite the Golden Tulip, Kumasi, into a modern recreational park.

But the KMA’s hopes were dashed temporarily after the Lands Commission ordered the destruction of the iron fence on the land.

The development created tension between the KMA and the Lands Commission until Hon. Eric Opoku’s intervention on Friday.

Francis Dodovi, Spokesperson of the Ashanti Regional Minister, told DAILY GUIDE that the minister met officials of KMA and the Lands Commission at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) on Friday where the impasse was resolved.

Another meeting between the KMA and the Lands Commission, which is an initiative of Hon. Opoku, would be held on Tuesday, Dodovi indicated.

He said the National Board Chairman of the Land Commission and other top officials would take part in the next meeting.

Explaining further, Dodovi said the land under contention had been earmarked for construction of the helipad for the RCC.

The KMA, he noted, had decided to develop the land into a modern recreational center with several amenities for public use.

He said the KMA recently fenced the land as part of plans to commence the project.

Dodovi said on Thursday, some men, who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Lands Commission, destroyed the fence.

Dodovi said Thursday’s meeting at the RCC was peaceful, stressing that the parties wanted to avoid acrimony.

He said the minister, during the meeting, called for the erection of the iron fence to facilitate the smooth execution of the project.

Present at the meeting were the KMA Coordinating Director, Solomon Asiedu and the Regional Lands Commission Chairman, Frank Osei Mensah.

Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Yaw Adusei and officials of the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission were also in attendance.