Adaklu Traditional Area now joins new district

Adaklu Abuadi, May 14, GNA - The chiefs and people of the Adaklu Traditional Area have finally declared their willingness to join the Adaklu-Anyigbe District with its capital at Agortime-Kpetoe amidst tension.

The traditional authorities on Thursday performed rituals to revoke an oath they had sworn earlier never to be part of the new district. Togbe Gbogbi Atsa V, Paramount Chief of the traditional area who declared the stand of his people at a press conference at Adaklu-Abuadi said the decision to be part of the district was never a defeat for Adaklu, but rather a sign of maturity as the custodians of the land. He said while the decision to rescind their position was painful they hoped it would bring development to the area as they contribute their quota and lay bare the human resources which the Adaklu Traditional Area was noted for.

Togbe Gbogbi said the boycott of workshops, refusal to take reading materials for schools in the area and the boycott of the National Immunization programmes were acceptable tools of protestation, adding that " but we can not fight the government forever".

He noted that the 1992 Constitution guaranteed personal liberties and if the generation they were fighting for would be at a disadvantage then it would be hazardous to hold on to their entrenched position to remain outside the district.

"In spite of all our protests the results are unfavourable and posterity will never forgive us if we abstain and deprive our people of basic human needs", Togbe Gbogbi said

He commended the gallant efforts of all those who through diverse ways had fought relentlessly to protest against government's decision to site the capital of the new district in Kpetoe instead of their preferred choice of Adaklu-Waya and called on them to eschew violence and put the past behind them.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself the concerned citizens of Adaklu under the leadership of Togbe Agbi V, A Senior divisional chief had blocked all roads leading to the Paramount Chief's palace in protest against the chief's new position.

This brought the area under soaring tension as military cum police reinforcement was sought to ensure the peace and security of the traditional area.

Togbe Agbi in an interview with the GNA alleged that the choice to join the Adaklu-Anyigbe District was a unilateral decision of the paramount chief and not that of all the chiefs of the Traditional Area. He maintained that Adaklu would never be under Agortime-Kpetoe and that the people of Adaklu preferred to live independently rather than to be under Adaklu-Anyigbe District with its capital at Agortime-Kpetoe. The demonstrators who were clad in red later slaughtered a ram to affirm their decision not to be part of the new district. 14 May 06