Ghanaians urged to contribute towards the development of the chieftaincy institution

The Minister responsible for Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Kwaku Boafo, has appealed to Ghanaians to contribute towards ensuring the development of an effective chieftaincy institution that would help serve as a centre-point for stability and a fulcrum for progress and prosperity. He said the relevance of the chieftaincy institution must engage the attention of all well-meaning Ghanaians and must help reduce disputes in the society so that such conflicts do not hold back the development of the people. Mr Boafo made these observations when addressing the chiefs and people of Awukugua- Akuapem in the Eastern Region at a durbar of chiefs and people of the area organized to climaxed the celebration of their annual Ohum festival on Saturday. The event was used to seal the resolution of an 18-year chieftaincy dispute in the town, a development which was hailed by Mr Boafo as progressive. He said although there had been a decline in the number of chieftaincy disputes in the country, he nonetheless re-echoed Government's plea for well-meaning individuals to help in restoring peace to traditional areas still mired in conflicts. He said the Government welcomes moves toward the resolution of conflicts among royal families to promote peace and to serve as the pivot for transformation in various communities. Mr. Boafo said the stability of the nation should not be the task of only the political class, but the traditional rulers as well, who he said, must ensure that they create avenues for the timely resolution of breaches of the peace that might arise in their areas. Mr Boafo appealed to the people not to supplant their values for foreign ideologies and referred, in particular, to a growing tendency of some parents not encouraging their wards to acquire literary skills in the local language in preference for the English and other foreign languages. A former Minister of Information, Mr Dan Botwe, who chaired the function, said celebration of festivals should focus more on uplifting the conditions of the people and less on entertainment and the display of fashion. He said traditional authorities should also make conscious effort towards imbuing in the youth values that stress on strong believes in themselves, truthfulness and honesty. Mr. Botwe lauded the Awukugua Reconciliation Committee that helped resolved the conflict that had made peace to return to the community. The Chief of Awukugua, Nana Asare Brempong II, pledged his commitment towards sustaining the peace that has been crafted and gave the assurance that, while he would not do anything to reverse what has been chalked, there was also the need to expose and put to shame individuals spreading false information about the town. Nana Brempong outlined some projects, including the granting of land to the Presbyterian University College Church to use as part of the Akuapem Campus of the Presbyterian University.GNA