Asantehene commended for peace at Kokofu-Ashanti

Kokofu (Ashanti Region) 7th Sept. '99 Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister has commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, for bringing lasting peace and unity to the Kokofu Traditional Area.

The Regional Minister, who made the commendation at the out- dooring of Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, Paramount Chief of Kokofu Traditional Area last Sunday, said he hoped that there would be no more trouble in the area.

Mr Yankah said land dispute is a problem facing the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) and that all stakeholders should contribute effectively to find a lasting solution to it. He said the ARCC and the district assemblies would support chiefs, who initiate new programmes to improve education in the region.

He announced that Anyinam, the birthplace of Opemsuo Osei Tutu I, embodiment of Asante Kingdom, would be developed into a tourist centre.

The Regional Minister who said the traditional area would be put on the Internet, called on the people to support the new paramount chief to ensure proper development of the area. Barima Okogyeasuo urged the people to join hands with him to move the area forward and pledged to be fair to all citizens.

He pledged to join hands with the queenmother, sub-chiefs and thread the path of his predecessors to ensure peace and progress in the area.

With the help of the traditional council, an annual festival would soon be established during, which the ancestors would be honoured, new development projects initiated and outstanding citizens honoured, he said.

Barima Okogyeasuo said his main objective is to ensure development and progress in the area. He called on citizens both at home and abroad to forget the past and bury all differences and help in the development of the area.

The Kokofuhene called for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Kokofu and Ahmadiyya Mission Hospitals and warned those, who have acquired building plots, to start constructing their houses otherwise after two years the plots would be taken from them and given to those ready to build. The new chief urged the Government to consider the reconstruction and tarring of the Aputuogya-Kokofu road through Oyoko, Adwumam and Mensasi for heavy trucks to use rather than the Kuntanase-Kokofu road, which has a lot of curves and steep slopes.

Barima Okogyeasuo called for the rehabilitation of the Kokofu- Asaman and the Kokofu-Anyinam roads with the possible tarring of these roads for health and tourism purposes. Odeneho Oduro Numapau II, Essumejahene, presided.