Traditional ruler cautions against installation of foreigners as chiefs

Nana Abew Kobina Otu II, Mawerehen of Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, has cautioned Ghanaians, especially king-makers, to desist from installing foreigners as chiefs without knowing their backgrounds.

Nana Abew Kobina Otu further cautioned landowners against leasing out their lands to foreigners for mining purposes.

Speaking at the “Eguadoto” festival at Gomoa Ajumako near Apam, the Mawerehen said the indiscriminate installation of foreigners and the release of lands to them for mining of minerals without proper agreements had made Ghanaians a laughing stock before the foreigners.

Eguadoto festival is used by the Omanhen to purify his stool.

He warned that Ghanaians must not use their attempt to develop their communities as a bait to install foreigners with questionable characters as chiefs.

“How many of the foreigners installed as chiefs really contribute to the development of the communities in which they were installed?” the Mawerehen asked.

Nana Abew Kobina Otu pointed out that most of such chiefs only needed such accreditation to enhance their image in their own countries.

On the leasing of lands, the Chief urged landowners to ensure that proper documentation was done with the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assemblies and with the involvement of paramount chiefs. “We must not allow poverty to make us sell our lands without making any proper documents”, he cautioned.

He said the way small-scale miners popularly call “galamsey” operators were destroying farm lands and water bodies must make Ghanaians to think of some danger ahead and learn to plan for the future.

Nana Abew Kobina Otu said the present generation needed to protect the land for the future generations.

He appealed to politicians to help make December 7 general election incident-free to make Ghanaians to continue to enjoy the peace they had been enjoying.