Ho, Oct. 2, GNA - The Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Panin II, on Saturday urged Chiefs in the country to be the bearers of the unity torch and promote activities that engender prosperity of the citizenry. The Okyenhene who was the royal guest to the Asogli State during its yam festival this year gave was speaking at a colourful durbar to climax the 11-day day festival.
It was under the theme: "Attitudinal Change An Important Pre-requisite For Prosperity".
Also in attendance were Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, Omanhene of Sefwi Bekwai and President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Kpankpatriku, Volta region's representative on the Council of State, a representative of the Omanhene of New Juaben, Nana Oti Boateng, and Chief Agorkorli of the present day legendary Ewe Kingdom of Nortsie in the Republic of Togo.
Amoatia Ofori Panin said chiefs owed it a duty to their people to re-ignite the dynamic roles their predecessors had played in the attainment of political independence by playing influential roles towards the attainment of economic prosperity for the present and future generations.
"Some of us have the will and courage to do so", he said. The Okyenhene affirmed the preparedness of chiefs to complement government efforts by galvanizing their citizenry towards national development because they epitomized the best interests and aspirations of their peoples.
He said there had been too much lip service to decentralization and called on the government to relax its stranglehold on stool lands and revenue accruing from such resources to enable chiefs to also implement their development programmes for the people.
The Okyenhene said it was time chiefs asserted their dignity. "Too many of us have degenerated into mediocrity," he added. He said chiefs ought to be forthright in the discharge of their duties and engender in their subjects a deep sense of belongingness as a catalyst for winning their loyalty and unity towards constructive engagements.
"The purpose of our lives must be to live a legacy of positive achievement for posterity to point to".
Amoatia Ofori Panin said he and his subjects would always remember the warm reception accorded them as special guests to the festival. Odeneho Gyapong Ababio said though barred from active partisan politics, chiefs reserved the right to speak out boldly on national issues.
He urged chiefs in the country to work out a common land tenure system to make it easer for the citizenry and foreign investors to acquire land for projects.
Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, who was the guest of honour, urged the Chiefs and people of Asogli to take advantage of the government's District Industries Programme aimed at promoting accelerated economic growth and development of rural communities.
He said the programme, which focused on developing an export-led and market oriented industrialization required district assemblies and strategic private investors to team up in ventures which would be community owned.
As a new initiative, Mr Osei-Ameyaw said the programme, required change in attitude and mindset if it was to succeed. Welcoming the people, Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia urged all chiefs to unite "so that we can provide the inspiration, strength and leadership that our people have been yearning for".
"I want us to unite to confront the urgent developmental needs of our people. These are needs of our time and they must be met during our time", he exhorted.
In a related development, the 'Asogli eleven' and 'Okyenmah eleven' drew goalless a friendly match played at Ho on Saturday as part of the Asogli yam festival celebration.
A large crowd including the Okyenhene and Agbogbomefia watched the match.
