Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Mamfe-Akuapem
PRESIDENT John Agyekum Kufuor last Saturday joined the chiefs and people of Mamfe-Akuapem in the Eastern Region in a grand durbar to climax their Ohum Festival, during which an appeal was made to king makers to help curb chieftaincy disputes in the region.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, who made the call, said although chiefs played an important role in the country's socio-economic development, it was unfortunate that the chieftaincy institution in the region had been plagued with disputes.
That development, together with land disputes, he said, posed a serious threat to development in the region and the country.
The event was on the theme, "The Chieftaincy Institution: A Partnership With National Development". The occasion was also used to climax the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the installation of Osabarima Ansah Sasraku as the Chief of Mamfe.
It was attended by dignitaries, including Mr Samson Kwaku Boafo, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture; Mr Samuel Owusu, the Minister of Public Sector Reforms; Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North, and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the flag bearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP).
The regional minister said the chieftaincy institution had, since the colonial era, been a big partner in national development, as it was used as the pivot or channel for policy dissemination and implementation, as well as in the administration of the country, especially at the local level.
"Chiefs, apart from being custodians of our traditions and values, are the embodiment of the communities and, therefore, act as unifying forces for development, peace and unity," Mr Affram Asiedu said.
He said it was in recognition of the important role chiefs played in the country that the government set up the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, the houses of chiefs, among others, to empower chiefs to play their roles in national development more effectively.
He, however, expressed deep worry over the high number of chieftaincy and land disputes, which he said posed a serious threat to the socio-economic development of the region in particular and the country as a whole.
"Litigation, in whatever form, wastes time, money and other resources which could alternatively be used to develop the communities. It also leads to enmity among ourselves," he said.
Mr Affram Asiedu, therefore, appealed to king makers in the region to nip issues that had the potential to generate into chieftaincy disputes in the bud.
The regional minister also expressed his displeasure at indiscipline in society, particularly with regard to the poor attitude towards the environment, immorality, abuse of traffic regulations, rioting by the youth and instant justice meted out to suspected criminals.
He, therefore, called on chiefs to join hands in the fight against those social evils to make society safe for all.
He also mentioned road rehabilitation, especially the Pantang-Mamfe road, and other projects in the educational, health, water and sanitation sectors, as some of the achievements of the government in the area.
For his part, Mr Boafo said since the relevance of the chieftaincy institution in the country's development could not be underestimated, it was time the institution "rid itself of archaic customs which retard progress to enable it to contribute effectively to the country's development aspirations".
To that end, he stressed the need for chiefs to be encouraged to explore funding to enable them to set up educational scholarships and carry out development projects to augment the government’s development process.
He called on the people, especially the youth, not to allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians to engage in violence for their selfish gain.
In his welcoming address, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, who dwelt extensively on the crucial role of chiefs in national development and the settling of disputes in society, expressed concern about the inability of chiefs to be involved in the day-to-day administration of their communities.
Osabarima Sasraku, who is also the Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, said since the role of the chieftaincy institution in the development process and governance of the country was ill-defined, it had severely limited the ability of chiefs to be effective leaders in terms of development in their respective communities and the country as a whole.
He, therefore, called for a review of the Chieftaincy Act to make room for the development of the leadership potential of chiefs, who should be seen as public officers to be held accountable and be given an appropriate role to become effective development agents in the country's decentralisation process.
Present at the ceremony were the Krontihene of Akuapem, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman, the Nkosuohene of Asanteman, Nana Owusu Banahene, who chaired at the occasion, and the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Felix Asare-Darko.
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