MULTI-PURPOSE PALACE FOR KWABENG (PAGE 35, MIRROR, FEB 27, 2010)

From Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua

THE Regent of Kwabeng, capital of the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region, Nana Kofi Adjei Twinin, has appealed to the citizens of the town to take advantage of the settlement of the prolonged chieftaincy dispute in the area to unite and peacefully coexist with one another.
He further urged the people to invest in the local economy as part of their contribution to boosting the socio-economic progress of the ancient town.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a palace court for the town, the regent said “we can only hope to see meaningful development of our town if we are prepared to live at peace with each other and let go past misunderstanding among us”.
The construction of the GH¢85,000 multi-purpose palace for the area was initiated by Nana Kofi Adjei Twinin, who also is currently the Akyempemhene of the area.
It is expected to be completed in December, this year to replace the dilapidated palace which was built in the 1920s.
The regent noted that the prolonged litigation among the three royal families, dating back to 1934, had severely affected the development of the town, a situation that had discouraged many potential investors from investing in the town.
“If we the leaders are always pre-occupied with litigation at the courts, how can we have the time to channel our time, energy and resources into development initiatives that will better the lot of our subjects?” Nana Twinin asked.  
Outlining development initiatives taken by the traditional authorities, Nana Twinin said the leaders of the town had set up various committees to oversee improvements in the areas of health, education, sanitation and environment, administration and economy of  the area.
The regent expressed concern over the lack of social amenities facing the district such as good road network, a hospital and infrastructure for the Anglican Senior High and Technical School at Kwabeng and appealed to the government to help address such problems.
The District Chief Executive for Atiwa, Mr Ata Twum, also reiterated the need for the people to invest in the local economy of the town so as to raise its development status.
He expressed the readiness of the district assembly to provide the needed support for various laudable development initiatives yet to be implemented in the town.