Traditional Area constructs new palace

Awutu-Mankessim (C/R), Feb. 27, GNA- The Agona District Co-ordinating Director, Mr G. B. L. Siilo, on Saturday charged Ghanaians to give maximum financial, material, moral support to chiefs who were poised to bring development to their traditional areas. He said it is sad to note that more often than not, many people criticise development-oriented traditional leaders who possess the qualities to lead them to improve the lot of their communities blindly without weighing the outcome of such unnecessary criticisms.

Mr Siilo made the observation at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a five billion-Cedi palace for the Ankobia Division of the Awutu Traditional Area at Awutu-Mankessim. The project, which was initiated by Nai Kwao Otuo V, Ankobiahene of the Awutu Traditional Area and 1994-second national best farmer, forms part of a new Township being built by the people of Awutu-Mankessim. Mr Siilo said the time has come for Ghanaians to stop spreading unfounded and destructive news about traditional leaders who have the vision, foresight, dynamism and other leadership qualities to champion the course of their communities, and offer them the required financial, material and moral backing to ensure development. He said any leader who is not prepared to build and improve upon what he or she came to inherit does not worth his or her salt.

There is therefore the need for people in every community to give maximum support to their leaders to initiate and implement development projects that could facelift the communities. Mr Siilo charged the citizenry to give chiefs the respect and honour due them, adding that the country's beautiful cultural heritage could not be found elsewhere apart from the various traditional palaces that our ancestors created.

Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, a former member of the Council of State, also advised Ghanaians to maintain the dignity of the chieftaincy institution and accord their traditional rulers the best support they needed to transform their areas of jurisdiction. Nana Prah Agyensaim commended Nai Otuo for initiating the project and appealed to all Awutus, organizations and well-wishers of Nai Otuo to provide adequate material, financial and other resources to facilitate the building of the new palace. He pledged 130 bags of cement to support the project. In an address, Nai Otuo appealed to the government to consider allocating part of the common fund to support traditional rulers, who are implementing development projects designed to facelift their communities.

Nai Otuo charged members of the Ankobia Division of the traditional area to make meaningful contributions towards the project to attract outside support. On her part, Naakye Dede Amuakoah, Queenmother of the Ankobia Division of the Awutu Traditional set up, cautioned parents of the area of the deteriorating moral behaviour of the youth and charged parents and guardians in the area to live up to their parental responsibilities. Naakye Dede Amuakoah warned that failure to educate their teenage children against the mounting immoral acts could easily lead the children into contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS and eventually face untimely death.