EXPOSE CHIEFTAINCY CONTRACTORS — AMPOFO (PAGE 35, JAN 4)

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has appealed to traditional leaders in the country to help expose people who parade themselves as “chieftaincy contractors”, since their activities cast a slur on the image of the chieftaincy institution.
He said the commitment of chiefs to expose such unscrupulous individuals would go a long way to avert the spate of chieftaincy conflicts which were severely hindering development in the country.
He made the appeal when he addressed the end-of-year meeting of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in Koforidua.
The meeting, which was attended by a number of chiefs in the region, was used to take stock of the House’s activities during the year, its achievements and challenges, as well as to adopt strategic measures to improve upon its performance in 2010.
The regional minister noted that the Eastern Region had for many years been considered as one of the most peaceful regions in the country.
However, recently the region had gradually been losing that status because of the activities of some unscrupulous citizens.
“The activities of these people have led to the proliferation of chieftaincy disputes in the region especially those in the Akuapem, Manya Krobo and the Akwamu traditional areas,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Citing the Akwamu chieftaincy dispute as an example, Mr Ofosu Ampofo noted that many potential investors who showed interest in investing in the tourism potential of the area and its limestone deposits had lost the zeal to pursue such interests simply because of the 17-year-old chieftaincy conflict in the area.
“It is because of the same protracted conflict that the chiefs and people of Akwamu cannot access the fund being paid by the Volta River Authority over the past decades,” he added
He, therefore, appealed to traditional authorities to adhere to the norms and conventions of their communities to ensure that the laid down procedures for installation of chiefs were followed without compromise.
The regional minister also appealed to the chiefs and people of Yilo Krobo to ensure a peaceful and speedy replacement of their paramount chief, the late Kpeteple Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, who passed away and was buried recently.
For his part, the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Daasebre (Prof.) Oti Boateng, urged members of the House to acquaint themselves with the new Chieftaincy Law to enable them to ensure the proper enstoolment and destoolment of chiefs.
According to Daasebre Oti Boateng, who is also the Omanhene of New Juaben, that would avert the frequent chieftaincy conflicts that had been tarnishing the reputation of the chieftaincy institution, adding that “we can only ensure the proper development of our communities when we live in peace”.