DCE' expressed concern about chieftaincy disputes

Sunyani, Sept. 15 GNA - Municipal and District Chief Executives in Brong Ahafo on Thursday expressed concern about the spate of Chieftaincy disputes in the region, saying they have crippled development in the communities.

The Chief Executives also expressed regret about the alarming rate of armed robberies in some parts of the region, putting fear in, especially female traders.

The executives expressed the concern at a Regional Coordinating Council meeting in Sunyani, attend ed by all the 19 Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region. They appealed to the Regional House of Chiefs to help solve the pending 51 chieftaincy disputes to accelerate rapid development in the districts and the region as a whole. Mr. Prince Donyina, Techiman Municipal Chef Executive revealed that there was an on-going transaction of small arms at Tuobodom, near Techiman and posed a threat to the peace and tranquility in the area. He appealed to the Regional Security Council to, as a matter of urgency intervene to halt the illegal trend. Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Duffour, Kintampo South District Chief Executive expressed concern about the high rate of illegal chainsaw operations in the Bosoma Forest Reserve in his area. Mr. Cassius Osei-Poku, Atebubu-Amantin District Chief Executive entreated the media to be circumspect in their reportage to avoid confusion among the people.

Justice George Lamptey, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Chieftaincy Affairs said the Chieftaincy institution was guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution and advised Chiefs to maintain the status. He said there was the need for traditional rulers to use their God-given ideas to help move the country forward.

Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Regional Minister, said Chieftaincy disputes were a threat to national development and appealed to the Chiefs to solve the disputes amicably.

He implored traditional authorities to rally solidly behind the Municipal and District Chief Executives in the execution of their duties to accelerate national development.

Earlier, the Regional Coordinating Council held a meeting with Newmont Gold, Ghana, which briefed the council about its operations in the region

Mr. Randy Barnes, External Affairs Manager, said the company had built 400 houses out of which 270 persons had been given accommodation under its Resettlement Action Plan Programme.

The company has employed 3,600 youth from its operational area and beyond for the project, he said, adding that 100 per cent of them fall within its unskilled labour pool. Mr. Barnes explained that 42 per cent of the employed youth were citizens of the various communities affected by the company's mining operations. Sept. 15 05