Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on chiefs to advocate for accountability in stalled projects within the Ashanti Region.
The plea comes in response to delays affecting projects like Phase 2 of the Kejetia Market, the Kumasi International Airport, and the Komfo Anokye Maternity and Children’s block.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that contractors had abandoned project sites due to unpaid arrears from the government.
Addressing the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, the Asantehene emphasized the importance of chiefs actively seeking answers rather than remaining passive spectators.
“Nananom, what are we also doing? I see a lot of chiefs going to the President for favours, have we done same for the airports and our roads? Let’s ask ourselves”.
The Asantehene clarified that all projects in the region are to be handled by the Regional Minister and questioned the chiefs’ involvement in seeing that these projects are built.
The chiefs were urged by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to investigate the reasons behind the delays in the region’s projects.
“We should know if indeed there’s no money to fund all these projects. Let us also seek answers from governments on why the projects are not completed,” the Asantehene said.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Encourages Participation in Fundraising Effort for Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s ‘Gee’ Block Refurbishment.
The Asantehene calls on households in and around the Ashanti region, as well as corporate Ghana, to contribute to the collective goal of raising $10 million for the restoration of the aging ‘Gee’ block at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The block, in use for almost 70 years, has not undergone significant renovations, with various areas exhibiting deterioration, including cracks in the ceiling, broken floor tiling, algae-infested washrooms, exposed electrical wiring, and overcrowded wards.
Despite its original 500-bed capacity, the hospital now accommodates around 1,200 in-patients in its main ward.
At the grand launch of the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ project, the Asantehene prevailed on Ghanaians to join the collective efforts to refurbish the facility.
“I visited the hospital at night. I came here twice and I was really saddened by what I saw. Komfo Anokye whom the hospital was named after was never sick, so the hospital can’t be sick. We must work together to fix it. There will be several changes in government but the building will always be there to serve us,” he said.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II continued: “I urge everyone including households in the Ashanti region to join me raise money for this project. Even 200 Ghana cedis will be appreciated. Let’s support this project”.