Traditional leaders of Awutu Odupong are calling for the removal of Awutu Senya East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Seth Sabah Serwonoo-Banini, over what they describe as poor leadership and planning in Kasoa.
They are particularly concerned about the construction of permanent stores on land they say was reserved for future road expansion projects within the Kasoa Central Business District (CBD).
The traditional leaders, who also accused the MCE of treating them with contempt, said his performance compared unfavourably with that of his counterpart in the neighbouring Awutu Senya West District.
They cited a recent report on the performance of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Central Region, which ranked the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly among the poorly performing assemblies.
Speaking at the celebration of the Odupong Awubia Festival, the customary custodian of Odupong, Nai Kwabena Atopi, said the traditional leaders could no longer cooperate with the MCE.
“Strangers are struggling with us over our own property. I want the government’s representatives to know that what they are doing will land them in trouble. They know that the commercial value of land in Kasoa has increased so they want to grab some. Now that they are expanding the road from Breku and Cape Coast. How can we expand the road now that they have built stores here?.
“I am calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene. As the MCE, you shouldn’t meddle in chieftaincy matters. You can’t substitute our destiny in four years. You can’t build on land reserved for a road. The Kasoa assembly performed poorly according to the Local Government Ministry. So we want to inform the president that his representative is not performing. Chiefs don’t do politics, but we can share our observation. The MCE must be removed.”
The traditional leaders also reiterated their concerns about the way land is being utilised by local government authorities.
They announced that private entities seeking land should deal solely with the customary custodian to help prevent disputes.
