Chiefs and elders of Ngleshie Amanfrom apologise to President Kufuor

Amasaman, Dec.29, GNA - Heart beats of the audience at a sod-cutting ceremony for work to begin on the 17.6 kilometre Ofankor-Nsawam section of the Accra Kumasi trunk road at Amasaman in the Ga district on Monday stopped for a moment.

The posture was to re-collect an incident that nearly marred a similar ceremony at Ngleshie- Amanfrom also in the district for the Mallam-Kasoa road.

The audience were however, overjoyed and gave an applause for sometime when a delegation of the chiefs and people from Ngleshie Amanfrom surged forward to the Presidential dais to render an apology to President John Agyekum Kufuor for the unfortunate incident at Ngleshie-Amanfrom.

A letter of apology dated December 29 to President Kufuor was signed and read by Nii Armah Okine, Head of the Kwashie Gblorlor Family and Stool of Ngleshie Amanfrom.

It said: " We the chiefs and elders of Ngleshie Amanfrom wish to render our profound and sincere apologies to our father President, John Agyekum Kufuor and his entourage for the most unfortunate incident which characterized the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, December 23 at Ngleshie- Amanfrom for the commencement of work on the Mallam-Kasoa road."

"Please accept our congratulations for the most matured manner in which you displayed extraordinary leadership role in handling the situation." "We therefore, seek your indulgence to grant us an invitation for further discussions on the subject matter."

President Kufuor in accepting the apology, expressed appreciation to the chiefs and elders for the gesture.

He assured them that their complain would be investigated to ensure justice prevailed among the factions.

The ceremony for the sod-cutting for work to commence on the 28 million dollars (244 Billion Cedis) 19-kilometre Mallam-Kasoa road project being financed by the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank was nearly marred by the confrontation between two chiefs in the town over a litigation that had been in existence for over some years and pending before the courts.

It all began when some elders and supporters of Nii Kwashie Gborlor III, chief of Ngleshie-Amanfrom prevented Nai Adupong, Awushie Tetteh II, Chief of Odupong Ofankor and Acting President of the Awutu Traditional Council from addressing the gathering after an address by Nii Adote Obour II, Sempe Mantse and Acting President of the Ga Traditional Area.

The security personnel had a hectic time to control tempers for the function to continue.

The ceremony at Amasaman was for work to commence on the dual carriageway project, expected to be completed within 23 months and being financed by the Chinese government with an interest free loan of 230 million Yuan an equivalent of 28 million dollars or 252.2 Billion cedis. The contract sum of the project is 181 million Yuan, an equivalent of 21 million dollars or 189 Billion cedis and both governments have agreed that the remaining 49 million Yuan would be applied to continue the dual carriageway to Nsawam and beyond.

The project, being undertaken by China Railway and Engineering Corporation would include the construction of a 20-metre long flyover bridge over the railway line near Ofankor in addition to pedestrian walkways, bus bays, road furniture and a maximum axle load of 13 tonnes.