Luv News enquiries have revealed a clash between youth of Asem and city authorities in Kumasi over a football field is a case of misinformation and lack of community engagement.
The youth are protesting a proposed project to develop the Asem Cluster of Schools Park into a modern sports complex.
They accuse city authorities of secretly allocating the field which serves as playground for the community to private interests for construction of commercial shops.
Irate youth stormed the site last week to vandalize construction materials and prevented earth-moving equipment from working on the field.
Yaw Asamoah who speaks for the Asem youth laments the project’s plan will not inure to the benefits of the community.
“Last week, we were here playing football when some persons claiming to have permit from KMA to develop the park approached us. Initially we got excited about the news but days after we realized they had barricaded just a portion of the park. We sensed that the developers wanted to transform the park into a six by six football pitch so we rushed there to vandalize the construction materials”. This is not good for us and we the youth will object it with our might,” Yaw Asamoah told Luv News.
Luv News has however learnt the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has agreed with a U.S-based private investor to transform the Asem Park into a modern sports facility.
Under the build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement the proposed complex will have standard and training pitches as well as volley ball and basketball courts.
Though officials claim to have briefed all stakeholders on the project, Asemhene, Nana Ampofo Kyei Baffour, tells Luv News he is unaware.
“As the Asemhene, I supervise lands for the Asantehene in this area. So I should have been informed. The irate youth thought I had sold out the park but that is not the case. The investor should have shown the plan of the project to me so I could communicate it to residents. I know nothing about the project,” the Asemhene clarified to Luv News.
City authorities admit they are yet to brief the chief, but maintain they have consulted with school heads and officials of the Metro Education Unit.
Sammy Gyamfi who speaks for City Mayor, Kojo Bonsu said the park is a public asset and not a community asset as bundied about.
“We are not using the land to construct shops. The assembly hopes to sensitize the youth on the project through the Asemhene. Since the project is under a build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement, ownership of the facility would be transferred to the Assembly after thirty years of operation. The Asem cluster of schools and the Metro Education Unit would also have free access to the facility after completion,” he said.
