Kumasi, Dec. 13, GNA – The Asante Kotoko Society, a civil society organisation, has bemoaned the deteriorating sanitary conditions in the Kumasi metropolis, saying the development was a disincentive to boosting tourism and also woo investors to the metropolis and the Ashanti Region in general. The Society said as the nation was making frantic efforts to ensure a successful commemoration of the 50th anniversary of her independence, it was imperative that residents became responsive to byelaws and regulations on sanitation to help improve upon the eco-system. Mr Moses Asare-Bediako, President, made the call at the Society’s last meeting for the year at the Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi. He was not happy that in spite of the fact that Kumasi was fast losing its status as the Garden City of West Africa, little effort was being made to reverse the trend. “Promises made by government to restore the metropolis to its status as the ‘Garden City’ had gone unfulfilled as even the few development projects initiated had been met with their own challenges”, Mr Asare-Bediako noted. He further expressed concern about the upsurge in the incidence of robbery cases in the Region, particularly the snatching of cars, mobile phones and other personal effects, stressing that since these nefarious activities were carried out mostly in the night, it was for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to strive to extend streetlights to obscure places in the metropolis. This, he said, would help expose gangs who take advantage of the darkness in most parts of the metropolis to carry out such criminal activities, adding that it was unfortunate that some places in the metropolis had been rendered ‘no go areas’ as a result of the activities of these criminals. Mr Francis Osei Afriyie, Financial Secretary, cautioned new members to abide by the Society’s constitution in their endeavours to enhance its image.
