Kpalime Chiefs indict government over slow development
The chiefs of the Kpalime Traditional Area, in the South-Dayi District of the Volta Region, on Saturday expressed frustration at the rather slow pace of development of the area.
Togbe Adza Wuiah Kwesi the Second, Acting Paramount Chief of the area, addressing the 2013 “Kpalikpakpa Za” (Festival), grand durbar at Tsatee-Kpalime, said governments over the past 16 years had failed to redeem their promises.
He said the road arteries, including the major link road between parts of the traditional area and Kpeve, the district capital, had remained bad for many years.
The chief said even the road through the traditional area to Tongor-Dzemeni, a viral marketing centre from where the district derives a lot of revenue, had been in bad shape.
Togbe Kwesi said a water system provided for the area in 2012, was also non-functional.
He recalled that in May, this year, a contracting firm, supposedly engaged to work on parts of the roads, met the chiefs and elders and requested for traditional rites to begin work, but in no time left site.
Togbe Kwesi said checks indicated that the roads were part of those under the Eastern Corridor roads.
Togbe Kwesi said the many abandoned school projects in the area needed to be re-activated.
The Kpalime Traditional Area is made up of eight communities, Kpale, Wegbe, Todome, Hiama, Tsatee, Kaira, Toh and Duga, mainly located along the Weto Mountain Ranges.
The Kpalikpakpa festival was instituted to serve as a forum to plan and evaluate development issues of the area and also recognize the bravery of their forbears in their journeys over the years from Western Nigeria to their present location, never ever being ruled by another kingdom.
Mr Kafui Semenu Bekui, South-Dayi District Chief Executive (DCE) expressed joy that festivals were no longer for only merry-making, but also for development planning.
Mr Bekui said a lot of school projects had been completed and many more at various levels of completion.
He said the roads had now been put under the landing sites accessory roads.
Mr Bekui said a team from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency had been in the area to evaluate the technical problems facing the water system which was inhibiting the flow through the pipes.
Source: GNA