We want our royalties now-Chiefs declare

Agona Nkwanta (W/R), Dec. 23, GNA - The Association of Chiefs on Whose Lands Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) Operates (ACLANGO) said on Saturday that the refusal of the Western Regional Lands Commission and other stakeholders to pay them their royalties was disheartening. Awulae Agyeifi Kwame, President of ACLANGO, said this at the second annual general meeting of the association at Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West District.

He said a petition had been presented to President John Agyekum Kufuor who had written through the Minister of Presidential Affairs that the issue had been handed over to the regional lands commission for the necessary action.

"It is so sad that all these while nothing positive has been made about our royalties," he said.

He said the 84 chiefs made up of seven Amanhenes in the Nsein, Ahanta, Wassa, Lower Dixcove, Lower Axim, Gwira and Western Nzema call on the government to expedite action and pay them their royalties which dates back to 1996 without any further delay.

Additionally, members of ACLANGO have requested to be given two percent share in GREL by using the land as equity and to have a representative on the Board of Directors of the company.

Awulae Kwame said the annual scholarships offered to seven pupils in the area should be increased to 14 to enable each traditional area to send two children for scholarships.

He reminded the communities that all development projects must be demand driven and should be channeled through ACLANGO for onward transmission to the management of GREL.

Mr. Marc Genot, the Managing Director of GREL, said the relationship between the management and a member of ACLANGO was cordial. He said the company would establish a new school at Nsuaem estimated at 100 billion cedis to meet the educational needs of its workers and others living in nearby communities.

Mr. Genot said the company would continue to support more community development projects.

He said the company sponsored 1,000 children with books, pens and refreshment during the vacation this year and would continue to sponsor the programme in the coming year.

Mr. Kwesi Biney, the Ahanta West District Chief Executive, said the non-payment of compensation and royalties to members of ACLANGO was long overdue.

He said though a few individuals received some form of compensation, a greater number of the chiefs have not received any compensation. Mr. Biney said GREL has been paying the royalties since 1996 and that social responsibilities should not replace royalties. 23 Dec 06