Amanokrom mark Odwira festival

Amanokrom, Akwapim (Eastern Region) - The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Alex A. Kwapong, has appealed to all Akuapems to bury their differences and to ensure peace and unity to enable them to preserve the legacy bequeathed to them by their forefathers.

He asked the people to pool their resources for national development and said good governance, peace and unity and stability were prerequisites for economic growth and prosperity.

Prof Kwapong, said these at a durbar of the chiefs and people of Amanokrom in the Akuapem traditional area to climax their weeklong Odwira festival at Amanokrom. He noted that, any society worth its salt should possess norms and values to regulate individual and communal life.

Prof Kwapong said the destruction of cultural values through ignorance or wilful neglect could lead the country into chaos and anarchy. Prof. Kwapong said, "Building scientific and technical capacities would only be successful if we have a strong cultural base.”

He expressed concern about the spate of indiscipline in the country, as evident by unethical behaviour, embezzlement of funds and corruption. He also cited, "the growing refusal of some people to contribute to the provision of services and the lack of maintenance of social facilities as acts misconduct.

Prof. Kwapong appealed to the youth to abstain from social vices and advised parents to cooperate with teachers in the training of children. He deplored the attitude of parents who physically assaulted teachers for punishing their children.

Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, Chief of Amanokrom, noted that democracy was being consolidated in the country and commended the government, political parties, the media, the judiciary and the people for the achievement.

Oyeeman Ampem, who is also Gyasehene of the Akwapim Traditional Area called for peace and stability in the country. On the state of Ghana's economy, he said it was not enough for government to ensure macro-economic stability alone, but there was the need for an improvement in the overall economy.

Oyeeman Ampem said: "In the final analysis, it is this that would create jobs, improve the well-being of the people thereby moving the country from a low-income to a middle-income status."

He said the Akwapim Gyase Education Fund, established in 1995 currently stood at ?170m. He said ?64.4m had already been spent on 163 brilliant but needy students in secondary and tertiary institutions, while this year, ?23.9m had been disbursed to 43 students.

Oyeeman Ampem expressed concern about the low educational standards in the area despite the financial commitment and the provision of educational infrastructure. He said the European Union (EU) through its Micro Project Management Unit Fund had released ?50m for the construction of KVIP at Amanokrom.

Oyeeman Ampem stated that the peace in the Gyase area had enhanced development and appealed to towns that have seceded from the Akuapem traditional Council to rescind the decision.