Kpone Chiefs are corrupt – Angry Youth

Angry youth of Kpone near Tema, are demanding a total overhaul of the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) saying it would help bring sanity and development in the predominately fishing community, accusing the leaders of being corrupt.

According to the youth, they did not need the staff, management and traditional rulers at the traditional council except their chief.

The youth made the demand when they met with the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, who had held a meeting with the traditional council and management of Asogli Power Ghana Limited.

The minister was in the company of members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the district chief executive (DCE) of the area.

Speaking to the youth, the minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpone-Katamanso, described some of the demands of the youth as ‘beyond government,’ saying government could not get involved in chieftaincy and traditional council issues; but could only deal with the content of the petition the youth presented to the Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA).

He advised the youth to seek counsel from their traditional leaders as government would be concerned about developmental projects and ensuring of peace in the area.

Touching on last Tuesday’s demonstration, the minister said although the youth had genuine cause for demonstrating, they should not have directed their anger at the Sunon Asogli Ghana Power Plant - a power generating company located in Kpone.

He said the youth felt cheated for far too long by some leaders they thought could help them develop the area and also better their lives.

Afotey-Agbo said the actions of the youth, though went beyond what everyone might have expected, had forced his office, the opinion leaders and stakeholders of Kpone and management of Sunon Asogli to agree on an arrangement that would help develop the community.

Addressing the angry youth after meeting management of Sunon Asogli Ghana Power Plant and the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC), he said, “You have demonstrated that Kpone is dear to your heart. I received a series of text messages and telephone calls to tell me that my constituents were demonstrating to press home for some demands.”

According to the MP, nobody incited the youth to rebel “because you are people who can also see and feel what to you, was not right and so to you, you felt being cheated.”

He however, condemned the vandalisation of any properties and injuries some of the demonstrators sustained during their encounter with the police, assuring the youth that in a fortnight, his outfit would be receiving some good news from Asogli Power Plant.

Besides, he said, “All the issues on the sale of your lands shall also be addressed so please remain calm. I will be having a joint meeting with the youth leadership, the traditional council and Sunon Asogli management to iron out all differences coming Tuesday so rest assured that something fruitful will come out for the development of your community.”

Nii Laryea entreated the youth to be at peace with the traditional council and opt for dialogue whenever they do not agree to some decisions and actions of their leaders.