President Kufuor appeals to chiefs to exercise restraint in litigation

Ngleshie-Amanfrom, Dec.23, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday appealed to chiefs, especially those along roads being rehabilitated to exercise maximum restraint and not allow their squabbles and litigation affect progress of work on the projects. He urged them to eschew bickering, litigation and allow decorum to prevail to enable the contracts to have the peace of mind to execute their contracts in absolute peace and on schedule.

President Kufuor made the appeal when addressing the chiefs and people of Ngleshie-Amanfrom in the Ga district during the sod-cutting ceremony for work to commence on the 19-kilometre Mallam-Kasoa road.

The project, being financed by the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank is estimated at 28 million dollars (244 Billion cedis out of which the Ghana Government is contributing about nine billion cedis), is expected to be completed by December 2005.

The project is to be made up of a six lane carriageway from Mallam up to about six kilimetres followed by four lane carriageway and dual carriageway to Kasoa, including an interchange at Kasoa to reduce the traffic congestion.

The ceremony was nearly marred by a confrontation between two chiefs in the town over a litigation that had been in existence for over some years and pending before the courts.

It all began when some elders and supporters of Nii Kwashie Gborlor III, chief of Ngleshie-Amanfrom prevented Nai Adupong, Awushie Tetteh II, Chief of Odupong Ofankor and Acting President of the Awutu Traditional Council from addressing the gathering after an address by Nii Adote Obour II, Sempe Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional Area.

The security personnel had a hectic time to control tempers for the function to continue.

President Kufuor said unless the chiefs were prepared to accommodate each other, there would not be peace for the contractors to work effectively.

He regretted the incident and said, " whatever is the case, we can wait and later litigate but not expose ourselves to such unfortunate incident".