LET'S DO AWAY WITH CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTES (SPREAD)

THE Krontihene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyeman IV, has appealed to traditional rulers in the area to help address its protracted chieftaincy dispute to foster greater unity and peaceful co-existence among the people.
That, he said, would facilitate the rapid socio-economic development of the area.
“My appeal to all those concerned is that enough is enough. In the name of the Almighty, let us, for a change, consider the good things that unite us and forsake those that divide us,” he said.
Speaking at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Odwira Festival of the Kronti Division, Osahene Agyeman stated that “the dispute has, for 15 years, tarnished our image as a peace-loving and God-fearing people”.
The event, which was used to honour 10 sons and daughters of the area who have excelled in their fields of endeavour and contributed significantly to the area’s development, drew a large gathering of people from all walks of life.
They included the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu; the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr William Ofori Boafo, who is also the incumbent Member of Parliament for Akropong, and Mr Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North.
Osahene Agyeman noted that many entities in the world today were looking for ways to band them together to facilitate the development of their respective communities and interests.
“It is apparent that a lot of my colleagues in the traditional institution have placed their interests above that of the state,” he lamented, and stressed the need for traditional institutions to come to together and help address development challenges facing their communities.
Osahene Agyeman also called on the people of the Akuapem Traditional Area and Ghanaians in general to think about how they could contribute positively to nation-building, saying, “It is incumbent on all of us to think through our respective roles to ensure that we hold high the interest of Ghana at all times.”
On development, the Krontihene commended the government for constructing the Tetteh-Quarshie-Mamfe highway, which he noted had triggered the gradual transformation of the area.
He, however, appealed to the government to extend the construction to roads from Mamfe to Apirade and Aseseeso to ensure the complete transformation of the Akuapem area into a modern community.
Osahene Agyeman was also grateful to the government for initiating other projects in education, electrification of the rural areas and the provision of health and sanitation facilities and commended Mr Boafo and Mr Adu Aboagye.
For his part, Mr Boafo highlighted the various development initiatives he had implemented in education, health and sanitation and pledged his preparedness to continue that work.