Mills reminds kingmakers to ensure peaceful chieftaincy succession

Accra, June 14, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday reminded kingmakers across the country to stick to the laid down succession plans and appoint only rightful heirs to vacant stools and skins. He expressed concern that chieftaincy and land disputes as a result of rows over chieftaincy succession had become a bane on the nation's development.

Mr Alex Asum Ahensah, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture gave the reminder on behalf of the President, currently in South Africa, when he received two separate delegations that called on him at his office in Accra to announce the death and funerals of two traditional rulers.

The first delegation, from the Anlo Traditional Area in the Volta Region, led by Torgbi Gbordzor, Dufia of Woe and Dusifiaga of Anlo, announced the death of Mr Charles Kwasi Mawuenyegah, former Deputy Minister of the Interior, who was also known as Torgbi Gawu IV. Until his death in December 2005 he was the Chief of Tegbi in the Volta Region.

The second delegation, from the Zini Traditional Area in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region announced the death of Kuoro Doctorwie Ninia IV, Paramount Chief of Zini who died May 14, this year, and has since been buried.

President Mills expressed regret and condolences to the bereaved families and the people on the loss of the two traditional leaders and paid tribute to their roles in the development of their areas. He gave the assurance that government would be represented at the funerals for the deceased chiefs.

The funeral of Torgbi Gawu, who died at the age of 81, would be held at Tegbi, and be buried on July 31.

As for Kuoro Ninia IV, his funeral comes off in Zini on June 25. In a tribute from the family, the late Torgbi Gawu was said to have been in public service for almost 40, having worked with the then United African Company, Ghana Police Service, where he rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police Criminal Investigations Department, and later appointed Chairman of the Immigration Service Board. He was later assigned Ghana's Ambassador to Algeria and during his tenure of duty the government of Algeria organised a trade fair and showcased goods from Ghana.

Ghana won a gold award for its brilliant performance a fair. The late Torgbi Gawu IV left behind a wife and 13 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Kuoro Ninia who also served in the education sector and until his death was the Registrar of the Tumu Circuit Court. He was voted the Vice President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs and helped in brokering peace in a number of communities in the area. Kuoro Ninia left behind a wife and five children.