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General News of Monday, 1 March 2004

Source: GNA

Swedish MP made chief advisor to Traditional Council.

Elmina (C/R), March 1 -- Mr Joe Frans, Member of Parliament (MP) in Stockholm in Sweden, was on Saturday enstooled the 'Nguadomhene', (chief advisor) to the Edina traditional council at a durbar of chiefs and people of the area.

The MP, whose stool name is Nana Apaa Essilfie I, is a native of the area born in Elmina in 1963, and left the country to reside in Sweden in 1980 and is an MP for the Social Democratic Party, the ruling party in that country.

He also serves as an expert to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights working group on people of African descent. The Omanhene of the area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI, expressed gratitude to God for bringing the new chief "back to his ancestral home", and appealed to him to use his influence to help step up socio-economic development in the area.

The Nguadomhene, swore the oath of allegience to the Omanhene and his elders, thanked them for the honour conferred on him and pledged to assist in the development of the area.

According to him, health issues, sanitation and education would be his priority, but stressed that, "I am not here to do local politics but to team up with the people to embark upon serious infrastructure development of the area."

Nana Essilfie, an old student of Adisadel college, also pledged to liaise with Universities abroad to get some assistance to boost education.

The Minister of Energy, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, who is also a citizen of the area, who accompanied Mr Frans, urged the people to unite and forge ahead with the socio-economic development of the area. He was hopeful that Mr Frans' enstoolment would encourage other citizens of the area resident abroad, to return home and contribute to the development of the area.