The Aflao Traditional Council on Friday petitioned President John Evans Atta Mills over the transformation of the current Ketu District Assembly into a Municipal Assembly.
A statement issued by Mr Komla Deku, Spokesperson for the Council and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the transformation is untenable.
The Council of Elders therefore urged the government to discuss the issues with the people in a transparent approach about the change of the current status of Ketu District Assembly into a Municipality.
The Aflao Traditional Council noted that the change of status had caused a great deal of disaffection in the area and “indeed tensions are mounting…and the Council of Elders therefore wish to appeal to Government to act quickly to reassure the people of its commitment to create a new Municipal Assembly which has been long overdue”.
The statement explained that a petition was sent in January 2012 to the President providing unquestionable reasons and justifications as to why Aflao must be given a Municipal status.
According to the statement all the major traditional authorities namely Aflao, Some and Klikor traditional areas constituting the Ketu South District had unanimously agreed to having the status changed to allow for the creation of an Aflao Municipal Assembly.
The statement said the people of Aflao Traditional Area were pleased with government’s position to create the Municipality and thereby bring development to the area.
“Unfortunately, in the last month, the actions of government had led the Paramount Chief, divisional chiefs, members of the Council of Elders and the citizens of the area to the conclusion that something unacceptable is in the offing,” it said.
The Council of Elders expressed disappointment about the way government is handling the creation of the Aflao Municipal Assembly, explaining that in early November 2011, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development presented a policy document approved by government on the creation of new Districts, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.
The statement therefore called on the government to adhere to the policy document by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
