By Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai*

In a space of a week or so, the Government has flagged intentions to undertake big ticket developments, no doubt in anticipation of oil money easing budgetary constraints somewhat.

These seemingly impressive projects include the Gold Coast City Project, the James Town Harbor project, the Western Corridor City project and the Achimota Ecotourism project.

It is persistent observation worldwide that countries that undertake big projects without community consultation or at the minimum allaying community anxieties, end up damaging community relations and creating public distrust/mistrust. Such consequences are taken for granted in our countries. As a result, public goodwill required for effective governance is compromised. These considerations may seem nebulous or esoteric but they are as important to stable governance as constitutional provisions of the state.

One person who may have appreciated the importance of community input is Charles Kwame Boakye. In a brilliant article on the Western Corridor Project by at http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/ NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=177747 he wrote:

- 'The most reassuring statement supporting this strategy was made by Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omanhene of Western Nzema Traditional Area, “...the Chiefs and people of the Western Region will not sell their lands but use them as equity in future investment programmes.”

- ‘The State is expected to establish a legally empowered Asset Manager to hold assets on behalf of land owners, and the youth of the respective areas will be given the first chance in job opportunities'.

So it appears, of all the intended projects the only one that appears to have a semblance of community protection i.e. Western Corridor City project, is the one not situated in GaDangme. And community protection in GaDagme may well be hampered by the current tension between Government and the office of the Ga Manste.

Last week the Ga Manste complained that he has been ignored by President Prof. Atta Mills. His Excellency’s complaint was somewhat unique - he communicated publicly and directly, the attack on the President was personal and defiant, there was no open threat but threat was implicit in the complaint.

The response of the President or rather the President’s men (and usually they are men!) to the Ga Manste’s statement was swift. One said the Ga Manste would only be invited to state functions after, not before, he is gazetted as Ga Manste. Another asked the Ga Manste to apologize to the President for his comments. The former questioned the legitimacy of the Ga Manste to so hold himself, the latter expressed a state supremacist point of view. Both were wrong in their approach to the matter, in as much as in my opinion they misrepresent the President’s position. And this we must all understand.

The Ghanaian Constitution gives supreme power to the President but the practical realization of that power lies in cooperative relations between President and traditional authorities. The President inherited a situation were his predecessor was accused of favouring one traditional authority at the expense of others. The President while in opposition observed how this generated considerable resentment in other tribes and brought ethnic considerations to the fore in Ghanaian politics. The President’s electoral mandate of governing for all restrains him from projecting any traditional leader. It is my view therefore that whether the present Ga Manste is gazetted or not, the President would still not give him and indeed any other traditional authority the selective prominence received in the previous government.

Since these developments, some GaDangmemei have openly aired their differences over the legitimacy of the Ga Manste. And the more irresponsible press are at full throttle fanning the differences - with the recent attempt to rope in the GaDangme Council to one side of the conflict [see http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php? ID=177971 ]

GaDangmemei must be very careful how they articulate their different views on the status of the Ga Manste. At a time when Government consultation with the GaDangme community and her leaders are crucial for the development of the country. Those GaDangmemei who bring the conflict over the legitimacy of the Ga Manste to the fore of Ghana politics would unknowingly contribute to alienation of GaDangme from the consultation process.

Intended projects in GaDangme would not and cannot await the resolution of the status of the Ga Manste. And if the projects go ahead without constructive input from the GaDangme, regardless of GaDangme fault, there would be lingering discontent that would bug successive governments. A bit like the unscrupulous land sales by some GaDangme chiefs that has contributed to GaDangme dispossession.

And so the Government must be clever here. It must create avenues of consultation with GaDangme and create wider consultative structures within the general public.

- The GaDangme Council remains the most authentic and reliable source of articulation of GaDangme sentiments. Government must forge closer relations with GDC and pass ideas on development by her

- The Ga Traditional Council should double up as an advisory body on these matters

- Government must find a way of opening lines of communications with the current Ga Manste, for formal notification of development intentions and to seek non-binding advice. Those who think this cannot be done, without first recognizing or at least creating the impression of recognition of the Ga Manste, don’t quite understand diplomacy

- A creative approach has been taken by a sharp mind on the GaDangme Forum by the name of Nii Ockan Mensah Quaye. Rather than beating about the bush, Nii Ockan got assurance directly from the ground that the developers of the Gold Coast Project would welcome views and sentiments from the GaDangme mainly Diaspora community regarding the projects in GaDangme. Nii Ockan is in the process of collating such views. Nii Ockan and the GaDangme leaders facilitating this input are showing commendable foresight and leadership. This piece is also to encourage widespread comments and suggestions on the intended projects to support that effort.

The Government could play an enabling role in similar processes. She could encourage developers to seek community input and persuade them to factor those input in their projects. Government can insist on compliance with UN provisions on world heritage considerations and protection of indigenous people.

* The author, Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai, is a native of Ghana and resident in Melbourne, Australia