The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has disputed claims by the Asanteman Traditional Council that it has withdrawn its representatives from the KMA and other assemblies in the Ashanti region.

According to the Bantamahene, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia, the Traditional Council feels eliminated in local governance representation in the various assemblies.

He revealed that the Council formerly had five representatives in the assemblies but that has been reduced to one by the central government.

“We are not saying that we have taken an entrenched stance which means that we will never come out of it, no. We are saying that from the way things are going, we are gradually being taken out of the centre. Being chiefs, we cannot operate from the periphery, we have to be in the centre. That is all we are saying,” the Bantamahene clarified.

But Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive Osei Assibey-Antwi says the representatives have not been withdrawn.

“They’ve not been withdrawn. In fact, it was the chairman’s opening remark which I quickly came out to explain to the hearing of Nana, which Nana even understood. So there is no problem between the traditional council and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly or the Ashanti Region at large. No withdrawal has been made as at now,” Mr Assibey-Antwi said.