Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
HIS ROYAL Majesty, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has for the umpteenth time, strongly cautioned encroachers to stay away from lands of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Recounting history, he said KNUST lands were given by his predecessors for the purpose of academic institution, and it has remained so for many years, vowing to jealously protect lands that belong to KNUST as the Asante King.
Otumfuo, who is the Chancellor of KNUST, stated that he would never allow anyone, family or group to take lands that belong to the university, stating that such things could never happen with him as the occupant of the Golden Stool.
“I’m stating once again that not a piece of this KNUST land will be given to anybody. I have strongly warned because the land belongs to the Golden Stool and the chiefs here are just caretakers. No Abusuapanin owns land here in the KNUST.
“Let me state clearly here and again that no Abusuapanin can claim ownership of KNUST land. Any Abusuapanin or whoever goes to court to claim ownership of KNUST land is wasting his time and resources,” Otumfuo pointed out.
He wondered why some legal practitioners, who are aware that lands in KNUST doesn’t belong to any family, still take money to defend people who try to illegally take KNUST lands, stressing that no KNUST land will be taken by anybody.
According to him, KNUST lands were demarcated about 75 years ago, therefore no amount of force or diabolical means could be used by anybody, group or family to take an inch of that land, especially with him as the KNUST Chancellor.
Speaking at the 75th anniversary launch of KNUST, Otumfuo also expressed gross concern over the rising cases of floods in the country, which poses threat to human lives and property, calling for an immediate solution.
According to him, the rise in flooding across the country, with its attendant problems for the citizenry, should be a wake-up call for authorities concerned to help find lasting solution to the menace.
Otumfuo was of the view that engineers, especially those trained by KNUST and other tertiary institutions in the country, should help provide antidotes to the floods.
“Nowadays, there have been reported cases of floods everywhere, especially when we it rains, and we seemed to be overwhelmed by the floods. My engineers please help us find answers to the floods,” the Asantehene remarked.
He disclosed that lack of proper waste management systems and public education on how to dump waste were contributory factors to the floods, reiterating his call for engineers in the country to bring their knowledge to bear.
“Our engineers should be able to educate us about where to dump refuse to avert flooding problems, because you are trained on these issues,” Otumfuo added.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi