The newly gazetted chiefs
THREE NEWLY-gazetted Paramount Chiefs in the Eastern Region have officially been inducted into the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
They are Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III; Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III; and Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the Paramount Chief of Akwamu Traditional Area.
The chiefs were sworn-in and inducted in a colourful traditional ceremony held during the General Meeting of the Regional House of Chiefs held over the weekend at Koforidua.
This brings the total membership of the Regional House of Chiefs to eight (8) out of the eleven (11) paramountcies in the region, due to disputes.
The President of the Regional House of Chiefs also the Konor of Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sakite II, in his remarks, commended the House for working tirelessly to ensure the induction of the three paramount chiefs simultaneously, an achievement he described as historic and the first of its kind in the history of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
He advised the new members to eschew any forms of vengeance to the people they perceived to be their adversaries during their enstoolment processes but rather extend a hand of reconciliation and unity to them and play a fatherly role in the discharge of their duties to facilitate development in unity.
He assured that the Regional House of Chiefs will continue to work around the clock to resolve all other outstanding chieftaincy disputes in the region to help maintain peace and unity.
“We have three more members to bring in – Yilo, Anum and Akyem Kotoku. So, the work is still not done yet but we will do our best to bring all of them in as soon as we can,” he assured.
The Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, on his behalf, congratulated the newly-inducted Paramount Chiefs.
He highlighted the importance of the chieftaincy institution in the growth and development of the country as enshrined in Article 274 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 9 of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759).”
The Regional Minister encouraged members of the House to fast-track the resolution of the remaining disputes to enhance investor confidence as well as leverage tourism and mineral resources for development.
“Although, we have numerous natural resources which hypothetically make us very endowed, our inability to harness these potentials into lucrative job avenues is affecting the development and growth of our region,” he said.
He solicited the support of the Regional House of Chiefs in the fight against illegal mining.
BY Daniel Bampoe