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Veep
asks Gas to come together for common good
Accra, Aug. 19, Ghanadot/GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu
Mahama at the weekend, called on Gas, to try as much as
possible to resolve all chieftaincy disputes through
dialogue, stressing: "There is no issue beyond resolution."
" I want to urge you to see yourselves as one people because
when you are one, differences will be easier to resolve," he
said when he joined the chiefs and people of James Town to
celebrate the annual Homowo festival.
It was on the theme: "Traditional Festivals and the
Traditional Role of Chiefs, 50 years of Ghana's
Independence."
Vice President Mahama's call was in apparent reference to
the numerous chieftaincy disputes in the Ga Traditional
Area, which include the controversy surrounding the
installation of the current Ga Mantse, King Tackie Tawiah
II, which nearly marred the celebration of this year's
festival.
Homowo is celebrated by Gas to hoot the famine that struck
them during their exodus from Israel to present day Ghana,
decades ago.
Vice President Mahama said: " You will agree with me that
you can only hoot hunger when there is peace...Accra is the
capital of Ghana. It is therefore necessary for all of us to
ensure that there is peace and stability."
He said investors could only be attracted to the capital
when there was peace and tranquillity.
"Chieftaincy disputes and communal violence breeds
insecurity, which leads to capital flight. Land litigation
also drives away prospective investors and diverts our
attention from the challenges of poverty and
underdevelopment confronting us," he said.
Vice President Mahama reminded the revelers of the scourge
of HIV/AIDS, which is spreading fast and posing a threat to
the country's socio-economic development.
"We can observe the rudiments of the pandemic by absenting
from casual sex, being faithful to our partners and by using
the condom if it should become necessary."
Obrempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, James Town Mantse (Paramount
Chief) observed that chiefs had played integral roles in the
development of Ghana, which include the consolidation of
democracy.
He however, expressed dissatisfaction about the spate of
chieftaincy disputes, which he attributed to inconsistencies
and ambiguities in succession to vacant stools and skins.
Obrempong Ababio threw his weight behind the current
exercise by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to
research and compile a register of succession.
Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister
supported the call by the Vice President for unity of
purpose in Ga State to facilitate development.
Obrempong Ababio conferred honours on Mrs Mary Henry Chinery
Hesse, Senior Advisor to the President, Mrs Oboshie
Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation,
Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Deputy Minister of Trade,
Industries, Private Sector Development and President's
Special Initiative, for bringing the Region to the
limelight.
GNA
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