Veep asks Gas to forge unity of purpose

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend, called on Gas, to try as much as possible to resolve all chieftaincy disputes through dialogue, stressing: "There is no issue beyond resolution."

" I want to urge you to see yourselves as one people because when you are one, differences will be easier to resolve," he said when he joined the chiefs and people of James Town to celebrate the annual Homowo festival.

It was on the theme: "Traditional Festivals and the Traditional Role of Chiefs, 50 years of Ghana's Independence."

Vice President Mahama's call was in apparent reference to the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the Ga Traditional Area, which include the controversy surrounding the installation of the current Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah II, which nearly marred the celebration of this year's festival.

Homowo is celebrated by Gas to hoot the famine that struck them during their exodus from Israel to present day Ghana, decades ago. Vice President Mahama said: " You will agree with me that you can only hoot hunger when there is peace...Accra is the capital of Ghana. It is therefore necessary for all of us to ensure that there is peace and stability."

He said investors could only be attracted to the capital when there was peace and tranquillity.

"Chieftaincy disputes and communal violence breeds insecurity, which leads to capital flight. Land litigation also drives away prospective investors and diverts our attention from the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment confronting us," he said. Vice President Mahama reminded the revelers of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, which is spreading fast and posing a threat to the country's socio-economic development.

"We can observe the rudiments of the pandemic by absenting from casual sex, being faithful t o our partners and by using the condom if it should become necessary."

Obrempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, James Town Mantse (Paramount Chief) observed that chiefs had played integral roles in the development of Ghana, which include the consolidation of democracy. He however, expressed dissatisfaction about the spate of chieftaincy disputes, which he attributed to inconsistencies and ambiguities in succession to vacant stools and skins. Obrempong Ababio threw his weight behind the current exercise by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to research and compile a register of succession.

Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister supported the call by the Vice President for unity of purpose in Ga State to facilitate development.

Obrempong Ababio conferred honours on Mrs Mary Henry Chinery Hesse, Senior Advisor to the President, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industries, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiative, for bringing the Region to the limelight. 19 Aug. 07