By Edmund Mingle
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called for an end to the many chieftaincy and land disputes in the Greater Accra Region, and charged the chiefs to let peace prevail in the area.
He said the high number of litigations, that posed a security threat, did not present a good image of the region, and reminded the chiefs of the need to be more development-oriented.
“Chieftaincy and land disputes, and the resort to violence, using land guards to resolve the disputes, create uncertainty and insecurity among the people,” Vice President Amissah-Arthur said.
He made the call when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of the region to mark the annual Homogeneous festival of Ga-Dangme people, at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra on Saturday.
The durbar, dubbed ‘Homofest 2014’ was the maiden festival organised by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, and the Tourism Ministry, as a platform to showcase the region’s rich culture and build unity among the chiefs towards the progress.
Attended by all the chiefs in Ga-Dangme, the festival had the theme, “Unity and development.”
But the Vice President reminded the chiefs that “the spate of litigations threatens the unity and the development we are striving to achieve.”
He explained that the situation created insecurity for domestic and external investors, which reduced the opportunity for job creation.
The Vice President said the region’s long history of land litigations and chieftaincy disputes, which inundated the law courts and Regional House of Chiefs, was nothing to be proud of, and admonished the chiefs and all stakeholders to amicable by resolve the disputes for socio-economic progress.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur lauded the objective of Homofest, which brought all the chiefs in the region together, and hoped that was the beginning of their commitment to cooperate and work among themselves to achieve development.
Touching on sanitation and health, the Vice President described as regrettable the outbreak of cholera, especially in the region due to poor sanitation practices.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders, including the chiefs, religious bodies, public and private organisations, schools to join hands in the crusade for improved sanitation, and also urged the Assemblies to support the crusade by enforcing the sanitation by-laws.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said he recently mobilised support from some private organizations to support the assemblies clear heaps of rubbish in parts of Accra.
He said “We cannot create filth and expect other people to clear it for us,” and urged the people to support the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s monthly sanitation exercise, aimed at improving sanitation.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, said the festival provided them with the opportunity to take stock and reflect on the future of the region.
He said the chiefs would remove barriers to development and support government towards progress.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the celebration of the festival, which coincided with the World Tourism Day, was part of effort to use tourism and culture to promote development.
She said “we must take advantage of our cultural resources to improve the standard of living for the people.”
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare congratulated the Ga-Dangme chiefs for adopting the festival which had united the people for development and assured that the ministry would help promote the cultural heritage of the region.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, urged the chiefs to forge ahead in unity, which remained vital for progress.
“What are you fighting over?,” he asked, adding that “If you are interested in the welfare of the people and development, you do not have to become a chief at all cost to be able to contribute to development.”
The festival, held with pomp and pageantry, was characterized by cultural and traditional performances, amidst the firing of musket by the various Asafo groups.
It was attended by the chiefs from all sections of the region, attired in their rich regalia to showcase the rich traditional heritage of the region.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called for an end to the many chieftaincy and land disputes in the Greater Accra Region, and charged the chiefs to let peace prevail in the area.
He said the high number of litigations, that posed a security threat, did not present a good image of the region, and reminded the chiefs of the need to be more development-oriented.
“Chieftaincy and land disputes, and the resort to violence, using land guards to resolve the disputes, create uncertainty and insecurity among the people,” Vice President Amissah-Arthur said.
 |
| Vice President Amissah-Arthur exchanging pleasantries with a traditionally dressed girl in front of Nene Tetteh Djan, Paramonut Chief of Prampram |
The durbar, dubbed ‘Homofest 2014’ was the maiden festival organised by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, and the Tourism Ministry, as a platform to showcase the region’s rich culture and build unity among the chiefs towards the progress.
Attended by all the chiefs in Ga-Dangme, the festival had the theme, “Unity and development.”
But the Vice President reminded the chiefs that “the spate of litigations threatens the unity and the development we are striving to achieve.”
He explained that the situation created insecurity for domestic and external investors, which reduced the opportunity for job creation.
The Vice President said the region’s long history of land litigations and chieftaincy disputes, which inundated the law courts and Regional House of Chiefs, was nothing to be proud of, and admonished the chiefs and all stakeholders to amicable by resolve the disputes for socio-economic progress.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur lauded the objective of Homofest, which brought all the chiefs in the region together, and hoped that was the beginning of their commitment to cooperate and work among themselves to achieve development.
Touching on sanitation and health, the Vice President described as regrettable the outbreak of cholera, especially in the region due to poor sanitation practices.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders, including the chiefs, religious bodies, public and private organisations, schools to join hands in the crusade for improved sanitation, and also urged the Assemblies to support the crusade by enforcing the sanitation by-laws.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said he recently mobilised support from some private organizations to support the assemblies clear heaps of rubbish in parts of Accra.
He said “We cannot create filth and expect other people to clear it for us,” and urged the people to support the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s monthly sanitation exercise, aimed at improving sanitation.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, said the festival provided them with the opportunity to take stock and reflect on the future of the region.
He said the chiefs would remove barriers to development and support government towards progress.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said the celebration of the festival, which coincided with the World Tourism Day, was part of effort to use tourism and culture to promote development.
She said “we must take advantage of our cultural resources to improve the standard of living for the people.”
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare congratulated the Ga-Dangme chiefs for adopting the festival which had united the people for development and assured that the ministry would help promote the cultural heritage of the region.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, urged the chiefs to forge ahead in unity, which remained vital for progress.
“What are you fighting over?,” he asked, adding that “If you are interested in the welfare of the people and development, you do not have to become a chief at all cost to be able to contribute to development.”
The festival, held with pomp and pageantry, was characterized by cultural and traditional performances, amidst the firing of musket by the various Asafo groups.
It was attended by the chiefs from all sections of the region, attired in their rich regalia to showcase the rich traditional heritage of the region.
No comments:
Post a Comment