Unidentified persons demolish statue project

Berekum (B/A) July 30, GNA - The desire of Berekum Traditional Council to further beautify the town received a jolt at the weekend when unidentified persons destroyed a structure meant for the erection of a statue at the main round-about.

The police are investigating to identify the culprits and at a press conference on Thursday attended by most of its members the council expressed its determination to still go ahead with the project.

An unnamed citizen of the area resident abroad donated the 50,000 Ghana cedis bronze statue of a woman with a baby at the back, holding a cutlass and carrying a basketful of cocoa pods.

Nana Gyau Gyan, Atipimhene of the traditional council, told journalists that the statue was to recognise the toils of farmers, particularly women, which led to the development of Berekum, fondly called "the Golden City".

Reading a press statement, he said the attention of the council was drawn to the demolition of the project meant to beautify Berekum to befit its status as the Golden City, which they were informed was carried out in the early hours of July 23, this year.

"We wish to state that in their bid to stop this project, the Berekum Municipal Assembly wrote a letter, (whose contents were however not disclosed at the conference), of their intention to this effect", he said.

Nana Gyan said the traditional council in consequence filed a writ of summons and a motion for order of interim injunction against the Assembly at the circuit court in Berekum and the application will be moved on August 12 this year.

"The (traditional) council would want to think that in view of the 'pendency' of this court action, the Assembly would not be involved in this dastardly and criminal act.

"However, if the contrary is ascertained, we shall use every legitimate means through the court processes to vindicate any available legal remedy, which may include but not limited to contempt proceedings against the Assembly and/or any other person(s) involved", Nana Gyan said.

The council called on the Berekum Municipal Assembly "to come out clean on this matter in order to dispel the suspicions of right thinking members of the municipality".

It was optimistic that the police would act with dispatch and bring the saboteurs and perpetrators to book and appealed to all well meaning citizens of Berekum and non-citizens as well to remain calm in the midst of "these ill-mannered and provocative actions of the wreckers of the development process of Berekum".

Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo 11, Omanhene of Berekum Traditional Area, who presided stressed that chieftaincy was now development-oriented and it was appropriate for Assemblies to collaborate with traditional councils to develop their communities.

"Gone are the days when chiefs showed their prowess at wars and other negative practices that stifled the development of their communities. This time chiefs must think of the development of their areas and the well-being of their people", he added.

Daasebre Amankona said metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies could not usurp the powers of traditional councils and there was the need to avoid the politicization of development efforts.