Change Greater Accra to Ga-Dangme region – Chief

The Greater Accra Region should have its name changed to Ga-Dangme Region in order to reflect the traditions and culture of the indigenes of the area, Nii Ayaafio Tetteh l, Gbeseamontsewe Oblantai Mantse of Ga Mashie has pleaded.

He made the suggestion during a courtesy call on him by the presidential aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga.

Mr Ayariga is embarking on a tour with a delegation from his party on the theme: ‘Come on Board, Let’s Safeguard our Birthright and Build Ghana Together’. The tour is expected to take him to every region of the country, as the presidential aspirant solicits for votes to win the mandate of Ghanaians to become leader of the country.

According to the chief, who doubles as the president of the Ga-Dangme Concerned Pressure Youth Group, the name ‘Greater Accra Region’ has no identity associated with its people and will be prudent to have it renamed to reflect the people of that land.

Speaking in his local Dangme, he said: “If Dr Ayariga becomes the leader of the country, he should make moves to change the name. Additionally, we want progress for the Ga-Dangme people in society.”

He expressed displeasure over the parliamentary ambition of Ms Eva Lokko on the ticket of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP). He described the act as retrogression because she was the running mate of presidential candidate Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom in the 2012 elections.

He indicated that Dr Ayariga had shown concern towards the issues of the people of Ga-Dangme and encouraged him to institute measures that would promote development and progress within the region.

On his part, Dr Ayariga said the APC was the only party that could change the fortunes of the country. Even though he admitted that chiefs were not supposed to engage in partisan politics, he pointed out that “if chiefs fail to advise, the crisis of politics will affect the society and their communities”.

He said the concerns of chiefs are important to the governance of the nation and “the only way to progress is when everyone is involved in the governance of the nation”. He called on the youth for support and challenged them “to be part of the change that the APC promises”.

“For Ghana to strive we need to believe in an all-inclusive system and not use democracy to abuse power and cause division,” he stressed.

The Greater Accra regional tour is scheduled to end on Friday July 15, after which the APC campaign team will move to the Eastern Region.