Involve chiefs in national governance

Odumase-Krobo, Dec. 17, GNA - The Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakitey the Second, has call for more involvement of chiefs in the administration of the country to help promote good governance and accelerate socio-economic development.

He pointed out that the chieftaincy institution had a very important role to play in the governance of the country since it was in a position to mobilize the people for development, especially those in the rural areas.

Nene Sakitey was speaking when the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace at Odumase-Krobo on Monday, at the start of his three-day tour of the Eastern Region. He urged the government to create avenues that would increasingly involve traditional rulers in national and local administration of the country.

The Konor repeated his appeal for the upgrading of the Upper Manya constituency into a district in view of the large size of the Manya Krobo District to facilitate effective administration. Replying, Alhaji Mahama said the NPP administration saw chiefs as partners in development and would continue to interact with them to tap their experience for the solution to national problems and to bring governance close to the doorstep of the people.

At a similar courtesy call on the Konor of Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Kpetekple Narh Dawutey Ologo, the Sixth, at Somanya, the Vice President said the government was aware of the development needs of the area and was taking steps to tackle them.

He asked the people not to be misled by the campaign of misinformation by some politicians who were out to create chaos and instability in the country as part of their efforts to win power. Nene Ologo who commended the government for the various development projects going on in the district, said even though chiefs were excluded from indulging in partisan politics "we shall give praise to the government where it is due and offer constructive criticisms when necessary."

He said the people had embraced the President's Special Initiative on Cassava and were cultivating several hectares of the crop to support the programme.

The Vice President, accompanied by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko and a Minister of State at the Presidency, Alhaji Mocktar Bamba, addressed the Somanya Zongo community.

He stressed the need for parents to send their children to school and eschew any immoral lifestyle, which could lead to the contraction of HIV/AIDS.

A spokesman of the community, Mallam Hamza, appealed for the rehabilitation of the road to the community and the provision of streetlights.