Emergency General Assembly Meeting of the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly..

The 4th Assembly of the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly on Friday, 15th March 2024 held an Emergency General Assembly Meeting in pursuance with Order 3(7) (d) of the Model Standing Orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies. The Meeting addressed ownership, operations, and management of the Agogo AstroTurf facility constructed by the Ghana National Gas Company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

However, contention on ownership of the AstroTurf emanated when Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company, claimed ownership of the facility, thereby, sought to manage the facility as his personal asset raising tension in the Municipality. In the quest to find a lasting solution to the menace the Municipal Assembly officially wrote to Ghana National Gas Company inquiring about the rightful owner of the AstroTurf facility.

To address the menace, the Ghana National Gas Company in their letter dated 25th October 2023, with the content therein, directed the Management of the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly to take charge of the facility and also constitute a Management Committee to manage the Agogo AstroTurf facility which was funded by the Company as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. The Board recommended the following representatives as Committee members;

1. 2 Assembly Representatives (including the Assembly Engineer)

2. 1 Traditional Council Representative

3. 1 Sporting Fraternity Representative

4. 1 Representative of the Initiator of the project.

5. 1 Female Representative

6. Assembly Member for the Electoral Area.

On Monday, 18th December, 2023, the AstroTurf Management Committee was duly constituted with representatives recommended by the Board of the Ghana National Gas Company. However, the refusal of Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah to release the keys to the facility impeded the work of the Committee.

Notwithstanding, on 12th March 2024, the Management of the Municipal Assembly received a notice of intention to commence suit against the Municipal Assembly from solicitors of Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah. The content therein is claimed as follows;

1. Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah financed the construction of the AstroTurf.

2. The parcel of land known as a site for sports and cultural complex hosting the AstroTurf has been leased to him by the Agogo Traditional Council.

However, upon the AstroTurf Management Committee’s meeting with the Agogo Traditional Council, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, Agogo Omanhene, strongly refuted the claim of leasing the said land to Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah.

In this regard, on 13th March 2024, the Management of the Municipal Assembly submitted a situational report, a copy of the served notice of intention to commence suit against the Assembly, and another important document to the office of the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Board Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas for redress.

In line with this, the General Assembly of the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly on Friday, 15th March 2024 held an Emergency Meeting to address the situation. The General Assembly resolved as follows;

• The Municipal Assembly should take legal action against Mr. Kofi Owusu Bempah for unlawful possession of state assets and to refund all monies collected regarding renting out the facility to the public.

• Any persons who obstruct the work of the AstroTurf Management Committee should be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.