Resolve chieftaincy disputes through dialogue - Bawumia

Adukrom (Eastern Region), 4 Jan '99,

Adukrom (Eastern Region), 4 Jan '99, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chairman of the Council of State, has appealed to chiefs and people of Akuapim to use dialogue to resolve chieftaincy disputes in the area. He said the area has notable personalities who could sit down in the spirit of give and take to resolve chieftaincy problems without resulting to external intervention. "You in Akuapim are better equipped with the traditions and culture in the area than others living outside the area and you should not look for settlement of your chieftaincy disputes from the Regional or National Houses of Chiefs", he stressed. Alhaji Bawumia was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Adukrom to mark their annual "Odwira " festival at the weekend. Alhaji Bawumia emphasised that it is the wish of the government that chieftaincy disputes in the area are resolved to pave the way for accelerated socio-economic development. He urged the Okerehene, Nana Otutu Ababio the fourth, to use his rich experience in chieftaincy matters to dialogue with his fellow chiefs of Akuapim to resolve all such disputes. He said the government has empowered the district assemblies through the Common Fund, to undertake development projects in their areas of jurisdiction and hoped that every community would have its share of development. Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, called for unity to ensure speedy development, and said that feasibility studies on the Bepoase-Asaman electrification project had been completed for work to start soon. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who is also Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa, said the regional VAT education committee had set up task forces to check unscrupulous traders who would be charging VAT illegally and warned that anybody who attempted to sabotage the new tax system would be prosecuted. Nana Ababio the fourth welcomed the changes in the geo-traditional situation in Akuapim as far as chieftaincy was concerned. He said the chiefs were fully resolved to perpetuate the current traditional arrangement, a joint Consultative Council of Paramount Chiefs of Akuapim Anafo, Guan and Okere and called on the government to support them. Nana Ababio urged the government to support the Amanfro Community Senior Secondary School to enable more children in the area to have acess to secondary education. The Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Fuzzy Torbay, mentioned the Twumguaso clinic, Aseseso Market and Sanfo Ano Primary School, as some of The projects he had financed.