THE Akuapem Traditional Council has appealed to the government, as a matter of urgency, to intervene in resolving the protracted chieftaincy disputes in the area to foster peace and unity among the people.
Such intervention, the council noted, would help bring together all the traditional leaders and people under one paramount chief to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
“We appeal to the government not to continue to countenance this act of illegality on the part of a few of us who are apparently putting their personal interests ahead of the interest of Akuapem,” it stressed.
The Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyeman IV, made the appeal on behalf of the traditional council at a durbar organised by the council at Akropong-Akuapem in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo.
The minister, accompanied by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, is on a three-day tour of the region to acquaint himself with the various challenges facing traditional authorities and to seek their support towards conducting peaceful elections in December.
“The 15-year protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area has affected us so much and if it is allowed to continue unchecked, it can one day create a big security problem,” Osahene Ofei Agyeman stressed.
He said the Akuapems had for centuries been noted to be humble and peace-loving due to their early experience with the Presbyterian Church and other religious bodies.
In his opinion, such religious encounter had enabled the people to be educated and God-fearing as well as enriched the culture of the people.
“However, all these things came to a halt when 15 years ago, some of our traditional leaders, out of petty personal reasons, decided to dismantle the rich heritage that our forefathers had painstakingly built for us,” Osahene Ofei Agyeman stated.
He blamed the protracted chieftaincy dispute on the various successive governments, the traditional authorities and the people of the area.
“This unfortunate act by a few of us has continued because of some lapses and selfishness on our part. But it has also continued because of the indifference shown by successive governments on the issue and the excuse that we normally hear is that the government does not want to meddle in chieftaincy affairs,” he stated.
According to Osahene Ofei Agyeman, the Akuapem Traditional Area had for many years been constitutionally known as one “Traditional Council” with one paramount chief by law.
“If we believe in law and order, which is the only way to go by, then any attempt to violate this arrangement spelt out in our constitution, becomes a criminal violation, which should not in any circumstance be countenanced”, he emphasised.
The Krontihene, therefore, expressed the hope that with the passage of the new Chieftaincy Act, the government would exercise the political will to deal with such issues.
On development of the area, Osahene Ofei Agyeman expressed the people’s gratitude to the government for the construction of the Tetteh Quarshie-Mamfe Highway, which had boosted development and investments in the area.
He, however, urged the government to help improve other access roads linking Mamfe, adding: “This we think is crucial to the complete transformation of the area”.
For his part, the Mamfehene, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, expressed worry over the taking- over of part of the lands belonging to the Akuapems by the people of New Juaben, and appealed to the government to help address the problem.
The Aseseesohene, Okatakyie Kusi Obuadum Amoyaw V, stressed the need for the creation of a second national chamber comprising Members of the Council of State and traditional rulers, to brainstorm on the development of the country and also serve as a balance of legislature.
Mr Boafo, who pledged the commitment of the government to resolve the disputes, however, appealed to the traditional leaders in the area to dialogue to resolve their differences.
That, he said, would facilitate the rapid development of the area.
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