Chiefs calls for solution Akwapim chieftaincy problem

Koforidua, Jan. 5, GNA - Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio, Chief of Adukrom-Akuapem, said on Wednesday that the constitution did not stop the government helping find solution to chieftaincy problems The chief, an Appeal Court judge, said the constitution only prevented the government from nominating, installing or removing chiefs. He was speaking at a breakfast meeting in Koforidua organized by the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) with the chiefs of the Akuapem Traditional Area to help initiate moves aimed at finding solution to the 16-year-old Akuapem chieftaincy problem.

Osuodumgya Otutu Ababio appealed to the out-going Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to initiate moves to help find lasting solutions to the Akuapem chieftaincy problem. He said the chiefs in Akuapem area had made several efforts under different conditions to help find solutions to the Akuapem Chieftaincy problem but it did not work. The Chairman of the Eastern Regional Peace Council, the Rev Dr. J= .. O. Y. Mantey, Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, said peace always go with justice and fairness.

Rt Rev. Joseph Kwasi Afrifa-Agyekum, the Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, appealed to the chiefs of Akuapem area to support effort= s at finding solution to the chieftaincy problem in their area. Osahene Kwasi Agyemang, Krontihene of Akuapem Traditional Area, appealed to the chiefs in Akuapem area to demonstrate the peaceful relationship between them in their private life in public to help promote peace in their area.

He said the secret political interference in Akuapem chieftaincy affairs was the cause of the delay in finding solution to the problem. Osahene Kwasi Agyemang said the role of traditional authorities i= n society was changing and therefore appealed to the chiefs of Akuapem to pla= y leading roles in their communities in the search for unity, peace and development.

Otubuo Gyan Kwesi, Aburihene, said efforts to solve the Akuapem chieftaincy affairs should tackle the real issues that brought about the crisis. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the RCC had decided to hold breakfast meetings with key stakeholders in the region to help find solution to the challenges facing the region.

He said the first of such meetings to be organized this year was the meeting with the chiefs of Akuapem Traditional area to initiate moves towards finding solution to the Akuapem chieftaincy dispute. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said last year he and some chiefs of Akuapem area were invited to the 25th anniversary of the Okuapeman Association of Americ= a and Canada in the US. He said one of the issues that came out for discussions was the Akuapem chieftaincy dispute and the association appealed to him to initiate moves to facilitate efforts at finding lasting solutions to the dispute. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo explained that the chieftaincy problem in Akuapem could only be solved by the people of the area and called on the chiefs of Akuapem to help find peace in their area.