The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, in the Ashanti Regions is raising a red flag to halt the incessant spate of demonstration in his area. Mr Samuel Sarpong told Joy FM’s Top Story hosted by Dzifa Bampoh that “Kumasi has become a very fertile ground for people to demonstrate…that should not be the trend”. He said his office is worried about the abuse of the peace in the area as civil societies and interest groups migrate from other areas and regions to stage their protest there. He noted that, often, most of these demonstrators disregard laid down rules for demonstration thus making their activities there illegal. Mr Sarpong said the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly would not sit down unconcerned and promised to “correct the wrong impression” that Kumasi is a fertile ground for demonstration. He however appealed to all and sundry to avoid politicizing the assembly’s concerns, noting that those engaged in illegal demonstrations cut across the political divide. Within a period of four months about nine groups have demonstrated within the metropolis, notable amongst them are the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), foot soldiers of the ruling National Democratic Congress, striking nurses at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service. Mr Sarpong said his outfit has no intention to gag free speech or restrict peoples’ right to demonstrate, but asked people who intend to demonstrate to cooperate with the security agency and follow laid down rules and regulations. “They (demonstrators) should not take the peace that we are enjoying in Kumasi for granted. We will never countenance such mishaps within the metropolis.” But Samuel Awuku, Director of Operations, AFAG, thinks Mr Sarpong is stepping beyond his boundary because he has no constitutional right to decide who and who should or should not demonstrate in Kumasi, saying that is a preserve for the police and the minister for interior. He said the group he represents has respect for rules and regulations and had always strived to follow laid down procedures before hitting the street to demonstrate. The assembly on Monday issued a statement on the use of Kumasi as the center of anti-government agitation, describing the situation as intriguing. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana