Chiefs in Western Region call for a development authority
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, has called for the establishment of a Western Region Development Authority to facilitate the development drive of the Region, which it contributes the chunk of the national resources.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi made the suggestion, on Monday, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo with his entourage, paid a courtesy call on the House, to share his vision and plans for Ghana with the traditional rulers.
He appealed to the NPP flagbearer to construct a teaching hospital in the Region and renovate health facilities that had deteriorated in order to improve healthcare if he was given the chance to rule the country, on December 7.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi, who is the Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Anhwianso, advocated the resourcing of the second cycle institutions in the Region with computers and science laboratory equipment so that students in such educational institutions could compete favourably with their counterparts in the well-endowed schools.
He complained about the destruction of the forest reserves through the activities of illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, which he said, had polluted water bodies and degraded the environment.
He, therefore, asked an NPP Administration to institute mechanisms to halt the menace.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi emphasised the need for the chieftaincy institutions to be actively involved in local governance administration so that traditional authorities could contribute their quota towards national development.
Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, the Paramount Chief of Nsein Traditional Area, expressed disappointment with the continuous disrespect some politicians exhibited towards traditional rulers, saying: “At mid-night then someone knocks at your door that a politician is campaigning in your traditional area so you should wake up”.
“Anyone who ascends the Presidency cannot rule this nation without the support, assistance and cooperation of chiefs, therefore, in the December 7 Elections, any party that wins ought to accord the chieftaincy institution the due respect and dignity it deserves,” he stated.
He urged the leadership of the political parties to accept the outcome of the elections without resorting to any violence or mayhem so that peace and harmony would prevail.
He said the Electoral Commission, in this regard, should ensure free and fair electoral processes so that both the victor and vanquish would accept the results without degenerating into conflict.
He also entreated the security agencies to remain neutral and provide adequate security to the election materials at all the polling stations.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, commended the contributions of some of the leading personalities in the Region, saying their inspirational roles helped to secure independence for the nation.
They include George Alfred Grant, Francis Annor Williams, Nana Kobina Nketsia IV and R. S. Blay.
He reiterated that an NPP Administration would create a Western North from the Western Region for the proper administration of the areas and ensure that the resources would be utilised expeditiously for accelerated development.
He assured that his Administration would increase the production of cocoa to 1.5 million tonnes from the current 700,000 tonnes per year and make the Region an oil hub in the West African Sub-region, with the oil service sector, leading the process.
Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the West Africa Mill and Cocoa Processing Company (WAMPCO) would be supplied with cocoa beans to make it operational to employ more Ghanaians.
He said an NPP Administration would relocate the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to the Region so that it would be closer to the centre of the oil industry for the proper administration of the sector.
He explained that it would ensure the fair disbursement of state funds, saying $275 million from the $1.6 billion capital budget for next year would be disbursed among the 275 constituencies to fast-track development.
The NPP Presidential Candidate was accompanied by Mr. Peter Mac Manu, the National Campaign Coordinator of the NPP, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the former Trade and Industry Minister, as well as some national and regional executives of the Party.
Source: GNA