Central Regional Minister commends traditional rulers

Ajumako (C/R), July 19, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze has commended traditional rulers for their role in the administration of their various areas.

Mr Edumadze said the government held the chieftaincy institution in high esteem and was considering creating a Ministry for Chieftaincy Affairs.

The Minister who was addressing the Ajumako Traditional Council (ATC) on Friday, cautioned against meddling politics in the institution since "chieftaincy is a sacred institution ordained by God" and had to be respected.

He announced that about 25 more communities in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district would soon be hooked on to the national electricity grid before December.

In an answer to a question on job creation, the Minister who is a citizen of Ajumako advised traditional rulers to advise and encourage the unemployed youth to take over farming activities from the aged, saying, the government would assist the youth in agriculture through the various President's own Special Initiatives.

Earlier in a welcoming address, Gyeabuor Nana Kwamena Hammah Ababio II, Omanhene and President of the council pledged the support of the chiefs and people of the area to the government.

He called on the people to turn up in their numbers and to ensure an incident free general election in December.

Nana Ababio who is the oldest serving Omanhene in the Central Region was installed in 1954 and would celebrate his 50th anniversary soon called on traditional rulers to lead the campaign against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and advised married people to remain faithful to their partners since condoms could fail them.

He appealed to the government to consider passing a law to restrict pornographic films and indecent dresses like "I am aware" and to establish a Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.

Nana Ababio called for the withdrawal of all chieftaincy cases pending before the courts and tribunals and said such cases should be referred back to Traditional Councils, Regional and the National House of Chiefs.

Speaking to the GNA he advised the media against publishing false information about chiefs and the chieftaincy institution to avoid being dragged to court.