Shun tribalism for development

Hohoe, March 11, GNA- Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area on Saturday said, the anticipated socio-economic growth and development of the country could be elusive if tribal and ethnocentric tendencies continued.

He said such negative tendencies were alien to the pre and immediate post independence Ghana.

"In-fact it is deep seated in all spheres of national endeavour", he lamented.

Togbega who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, therefore called on politicians, traditional authorities, civil society groups and organizations to stimulate activities towards its eradication.

The Paramount Chief said tribal and ethnocentric tendencies were affront to the development aspiration of States including Ghana and that such phenomena have no place in the development paradigm anywhere. He said the feeling of hope and security in all spheres at independence has all faded out and that it was time for Ghanaians to brainstorm to re-capture the lost quality in education, health, agriculture and industry to facilitate the needed growth and development.

Togbega Gabusu said Ghana was the beacon of hope for Africa at Independence and its role in the comity of States and continues to be relevant today and that "any failure on our part would spell doom for the continent".

He said the next 50 years should trigger the deepening of state and traditional relationship and taking drastic measures to improve socio-economic development as well as the deepening of democratisation and the decentralization processes.

Also ensuring the rule of law, freedom and justice, heightening of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth in the Ghanaian On the Golden Jubilee celebration, Togbega said he personally appreciated the sense of nationalism and patriotism, which heralded the climax of the Golden Jubilee celebration on his return from a short visit to the United States and Canada.

He said the feeling was so great that the people felt proud to be Ghanaians and hoped that this feeling would not evaporate into thin air, but be harnessed and sustained to facilitate accelerated development.