Osu Mantse to arrest children seen after 9pm

The Osu Mantse and President of the Osu Traditional Council, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, has warned that children aged five to 15 would be arrested and severely dealt with when seen loitering in the community after 9:00 p.m.

The chief issued this directive during the official launch of the 10th-anniversary celebration of his ascension to the traditional throne. Nii Dowuona was enstooled on May 4, 2007.

“Children under the ages of 5 to 15 who are found on the streets or walking idly during school hours and in the night would be dealt with. We want every parent in the area to adhere to this new directive so that the children would take their studies seriously,” the chief said.

He said the new measure is to ensure that children in the area take their education seriously so that the Council could produce good academicians and top professionals who would drive the township forward when they were gone.

He revealed that the Council intends to implement the new directive in collaboration with the traditional council security forces, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and Ghana Education Service.

A planning committee has been set up to plan the activities for the anniversary. According to him, the celebration would be marked with a remembrance service for all the late chiefs of the Traditional Council.

The chief, during the anniversary, would honour some of the best pupils and students who have excelled in their various schools. Scholarships would also be awarded to them.

Among activities lined up are soccer gala, a photo exhibition, a film on the achievements of Nii Dowuona and a choral music festival in collaboration with the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Osu.

The chief, who recollected when he was enstooled, said his ascension was characterised by litigations but he thanked the Almighty God that the parties who objected his enthronement had now accepted him as their chief.

He disclosed that the litigations continued for five years within his reign.

“I thank the Almighty God, elders and kingmakers of the Council for turning the fortunes of Osu around by ensuring that we live in peace and harmony after 60 years of chieftaincy disputes,” he said.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, in a brief remark, urged the people to work for the progress of the region and help the chief to succeed.