Chieftaincy Minister, Kofi Dzamesi (Blue and White Striped Smock) with others commissioning the Wusuta Traditional Council Office
Government has inaugurated five newly created traditional councils in the Volta Region as part of measures to get chiefs more involved in national development.
According to Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the inauguration of the new traditional councils is to further strengthen, unite and increase collaboration among traditional areas to reduce chieftaincy disputes.
The minister made this known when he undertook a three-day tour of the region to inaugurate the traditional councils.
The first to be inaugurated was the Afife and Adaklu traditional councils, which were formerly under Anlo and Asogli respectively. It was followed by Ziavi and Logba formerly under Asogli and Akpini (Kpando) respectively. On Friday, Wusuta (North Dayi District), formerly under Akpini Traditional Council, was also inaugurated.
The swearing in aspect was carried out by Harry Anthony Attipoe, the Registrar of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, while the Oaths of Office were administered by Magistrate Court judges.
Mr. Dzamesi asked members of the new traditional councils to use the new status for cohesion to ensure development in their areas, saying “the traditional councils should integrate the people of the traditional areas for development, not disintegration.”
He assured them of government’s commitment towards the chieftaincy institution, adding that the creation of new traditional councils substantiates this commitment. He added that the New Patriotic Party government would give the traditional councils the logistics they need to deliver on their mandate.
Torgbui Adzrakpanya VI, President of Afife Traditional Council, stressed that the new status was not “an attempt to extricate the Afife Traditional Council from the Anlo State,” adding that it should be far from them to be “construed as rebellious children.”
Togbe Gbogbi Atsa V, President of Adaklu Traditional Council, observed that the creation of the new councils was timely as the Adaklu Taditional Area plans to undertake a number of development projects. He therefore appealed to government and all Adaklus to support the chiefs in facilitating development in the area.
Togbega Kweku Ayim III, President of Ziavi Traditional Council called for peace and urged President Akufo-Addo to get contractors back on site to complete projects started in Ziavi Senior High Technical School (ZISTECH).
Unansanango Dabra VI, President of the Logba Traditional Council expressed gratitude to government and made an appealed that the name Logba Traditional Council be changed to its original name – “Akpana”.
Responding to the appeal, the sector minister advised that a formal request in that regard be made to the Regional House of Chiefs for a change.
President of Wusuta Traditional Council, Togbega Osei Tutu Obrempong III, praised the sterling performance of Mr. Kofi Dzamesi and the NPP government for the initiative and appealed to every citizen of Wusuta to join forces to develop the area.
Deputy Volta Regional Minister Maxwell Kofi Blagodzi, who represented the regional minister, congratulated members of the new traditional councils and urged them to use the councils to facilitate development and not for serving personal parochial interests.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)