Reduce size of Assemblies

Gomoa Darmang (C/R), Feb 23, GNA - The Paramount Chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea II, has appealed to the government to reduce the size of unit committees and the assemblies to enable the members to be paid some remuneration. Obrifo Ahor Ankobea described the district assembly concept as laudable but because members were not paid it was not working effectively as it should.

Addressing a meeting of the Traditional Council at Gomoa Darmang in the Gomoa West District, he appealed to chiefs and queen mothers to get involved in district level elections later in the year. "Chiefs need to know the calibre of people they are to partner in developing their communities," he said. Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea said the assemblies were the axis on which development rotated therefore it was prudent that "we elect people of integrity who are prepared to champion the cause of their electoral areas to the assemblies."

He appealed to competent men and women to offer themselves for election to the assemblies and that unavailability of competent and skilled people in the assemblies retarded progress.

Obrifo Ahor Ankobea said chiefs should woo investors to their areas and support them to get settled.

He said the Traditional Council would not do any serious business with chiefs who are not gazetted and advised them to ensure that their particulars were forwarded to the National House of Chiefs Headquarters in Kumasi for the gazette to be effected. Mr Peter Antwi Boasiako, Gomoa West District Coordinating Director, said 31 projects are under construction at Apam, Mumford and Ankamu with support from the Social Investment Fund. He said the Assembly had decided to set up an Education Endowment Fund to generate funds to support needy but brilliant students to further their education and appealed to chiefs and queens to support the Assembly when it takes off. He commended Obrifo Ahor Ankobea for deciding to rotate the Traditional Council meeting and said it would make people in the communities to see the dignity in chieftaincy. 23 Feb 10