85% Of Abuontem Layout Doesn’t Conform to Site Plan- Surveyor Informs Otumfuo

The Regional Surveyor, Isaac Larbi, has confirmed that 85% of the Abuontem layout does not conform to the town’s original site plan.

This comes after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, directed Oheneba Owusu Afriyie, Apagyahene, to lead a surveyor to assess the area. The directive followed complaints by some landlords accusing Nana Akomea Sakyi Tutu Ampam II of extortion and reselling lands.

At a Kumasi Traditional Council meeting held on July 21, 2025, the surveyor presented his findings, indicating that the deviations were due to implementation challenges.

He noted that the layout had been executed by unqualified individuals.

As remedy, he proposed a revision in the site plan.

“We need a revision for the site plan to conform to the revised layout.”

Otumfuo for the second time tasked the surveyor to take charge of the revision.

“Undertake the revision for us so that peace will prevail.”

The Asantehene further urged the aggrieved plaintiffs to exercise restraint until the surveyor completes his work.

In the meantime, he directed all with grievances to make them known to the Apagyahene.

Background
The spokesperson of the group of landlords who identified himself as George Anane recounted how Nana Akomea announced in the town a directive for all landowners to visit his office with receipts and documentation on their lands.

They were told that this process would require ¢900 registration, which was subsequently adjusted to ¢1,500.

He said that after perusing the documents, the Abuontemhene judged that they all possessed illegitimate documents and thus offered them resale at a cost ranging from ¢50,000 to ¢120,000.

“But we felt that since we secured the land legitimately from Nana Kwaku Duah, who preceded the incumbent chief, it was unfair to us especially those of us whose lands fall within the layout.”

They first reported it to the court of Asantehemaa where the case was given to a four-member committee, he said.

“On the first meeting of the committee, the chief reported. However, he refused to show up at subsequent meetings.”

In his submission, he indicated that they were not against a crackdown on poor settlement plans but efforts by the chief to shortchange those of them whose buildings or lands were properly sited.

Nana Akomea was offered a hearing during which he denied the allegations.

In his defence, he pointed out that Otumfuo had charged him to undertake a rezoning and relook at all documents of lands sold in the town.

According to him, of the number of individuals who have lands in the town, 3,830 people and 30 corporate entities complied and submitted their documents when he made the announcement.

He said all 30 corporate entities and about 3,000 individuals had been cleared and given new allocation documents.

“Surveyors and town planners evaluated the lands of all attendees, checking for boundary issues and misaligned properties.”

On registration, he said it was imperative to determine multiple sale of lands by his predecessor as well as payment for the services of the surveyors and planners.

“The surveyor and town planners charged ¢3000 for a day’s work and so I had to increase the registration fee from ¢900 to ¢1,400 and then ¢1,500.”

He also admitted to taking ¢15,000 but stated that part of it was for allocation documents.

“Though the layout was perfect, my predecessor failed to comply with it and so when I came, I decided to rezone which is also expensive. That also called for the services of surveyors, town planners, police and many more people who had to be paid. So I decided to charge ¢15,000 for the allocation document. It was also to migrate from street names to block names.”

He thus denied reselling lands to original owners, saying all legitimate landowners had rather been given new allocation document.

“I have not sold any land since I ascended the stool…I took ¢15,000 for the rezoning but there are some who pay less. I have never taken ¢50,000 from anyone.”

Additionally, he said the ¢15,000 charge was part of a re-entry plan for persons who had failed to put up any structure on their land for some years now.

This amount, according to him, was reduced for persons who could not afford it in the spirit of goodwill.

Furthermore, he affirmed that most of those who had beseeched the King had not submitted their documents for verification.

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/