Let's put the past behind us - Nii Okainja

Accra, May 20, GNA - Nii Okainja III, Gbese Mantse, has urged people in Gbese, to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity for the accelerated development of the community. He stated that now that the Gbese Chieftaincy dispute had been finally determined by the law courts, there was the urgent need for "all of us to put the past behind us, and move ahead in unity to develop Gbese."

Nii Okainja made the call when he interacted with newsmen at his Odorkor residence in Accra on Tuesday on the way forward for Gbese. "The development of Gbese is very dear to my heart," he said, adding, however, that in the years gone by, it was disheartening to see the people of Gbese waste and dissipate scarce resources, time and energy at the law courts over the chieftaincy issues. Nii Gbese pledged his preparedness to offer the olive branch to all and sundry within the community at times.

"The time has come for us to say that enough is enough. We must unite and respect the rule of law; put past petty squabbles behind us, and initiate moves that would help improve our society." He stated that; "where you had a divided society, it was highly impossible to either make any headway, or solicit assistance from elsewhere."

On education, Nii Okainja said he was personally interested in educating the people, especially the youth in the community, to enable them to grow into responsible adults, adding; "due to lack of education, the people's welfare suffers."

Asked about preparations for the upcoming Homowo in Gbese, he said the people were hopeful of a peaceful and successful celebration. Nii Okainja said by tradition, the Gbese Mantse was the Adonten of the Ga State", and on June 4, this year, he would be expected to lift the ban on drumming on the Ga Traditional Area, by beating the "Odadao drum, to signify the beginning of the Homowo celebration. In the Gbese chieftaincy dispute which erupted between Nii Okainja and Nii Ayi Bonte II, the Court of Appeal, on November 6, 2008 ruled that Nii Okaidja was the rightful occupant of the Gbese Stool.