Adaklu should be capital of new district - Chiefs

Ho, Sept. 3, GNA - The chiefs and people of Adaklu Traditional Area on Friday cautioned the Government that it would be politically unwise to deny Adaklu the hosting of the capital of the newly created Adaklu-Anyigbe District.

This was contained in a resolution they presented to the Regional Coordinating Council for the attention of President John Agyekum Kufuor after several hours of peaceful demonstration in Ho in protest against the alleged turn-about in relocating the district capital from Adaklu-Waya to Agortime- Kpetoe.

"Strategically, the candidate that Adaklu supports always wins the Parliamentary seat."

The resolution said in the light of the earlier decision to make Adaklu-Waya the capital, "we have impressed on all Adaklu citizens to hold their political ambitions by not filing to contest the parliamentary seat so that Adaklu can throw its weight behind the NPP candidate."

The resolution read by Togbe Lablulu Tegbeza V, Senior Divisional Chief, said it was therefore politically unwise to take the capital from Adaklu-Waya to Kpetoe to the displeasure of the people of Adaklu. The resolution was critical of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko and implored the Government to allow Legislative Instrument (LI) 1741 passed by Parliament on 25 June 2004, designating Adaklu-Waya as the District Capital to stand to ensure a smooth take-off of the new district.

It said if that should fail, then Adaklu would opt out of the new district and revert to the Ho District and wait its turn to become a district given its size and population.

It, therefore, recommended to the Government to convene a meeting of the chiefs in the traditional areas constituting the new district to resolve the matter.

The Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Steve Selormey, who received the resolution on behalf of the Regional Minister, commended the peaceful manner in which the demonstration was held.

He urged the chiefs and opinion leaders to ensure that law and order was not undermined in their quest to press home their demand. Some of the placards read: "NPP Government Watch Your Destroyers"; "Is Parliament of Ghana Supreme?" "President; Be Wary Of Your Ministers." 3 Sept. 04