Minister commends Traditional Council

Awutu (Central Region), 9 Feb. '99 -

Members of the Awutu Traditional Council have been commended for making the area a "chieftaincy dispute-free zone". The Central Regional Minister, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Agbenaza, made the commendation when he addressed the Awutu Traditional Council at Awutu, after the Omanhene of the area, Abokuadi Whetey Agyemang-Larbie the second, had briefed him on chief- taincy situation in the Awutu community. Abokuadi Agyemang-Larbie said for the past 13 years chiefs in the area have not engaged in any serious chieftaincy problem, adding "we have devised effective means of resolving our deferences for the sake of peace, stability and development." He assured the Regional Minister and the government of the council's determination to maintain the laudable precedence it has set and reiterated his call on the government to ensure the early implementation the Awutu-Beraku/Obrachire and the Senya-Beraku/Awutu roads rehabilitation projects without any further delays. Abokuadi Agyeamang-Larbie expressed concern about the 80,000 Cedis Travelling and Transport (T&T) expenditure parents in Awutu incur on each student pursuing secondary education at Obrachire, a distance of about 25 monthly, and appealed to the government to provide Awutu, the traditional capital, a separate Senior Secondary School. Lt-Col Agbenaza advised communities in the region which are still dabbling in chieftaincy problems to emulate the Awutu chiefs by initiating moves to resolve such unproductive ventures. He expressed his appreciation to the Omanhene for being realistic in his comments about the NDC government, adding "we need people like you who would give praises where it is due and criticise constructively where criticism is required" to promote democracy in the country. On his request for the of rehabilitation of Senya-Beraku and Obrachire-Awutu roads, as well as the establishment of a Senior Secondary School at Awutu, the Regional Minister assured the Omanhene that they would be taken into serious consideration. Accompanied by his deputy, Mr H. Q. Jehu-Appiah, and some members of the Central Regional Co-ordinating Council(CRCC), Lt-Col Agbenaza affirmed his preparedness to operate open government and advised people in the Region to feel free to approach him with constructive suggestions and ideas that would enhance development. He, however, cautioned people who have made up their minds to send him anonymous letters and false news about chiefs, opinion leaders and government officials in their districts to do away with such notions immediately because they would be exposed and dealt with.