President Akufo-Addo has given assurance that his administration will compensate the chiefs and people of Osu for lands that have been taken from them for the Marine Drive Project.
The $1.2 billion Marine Drive Project would see the development of the coastal line into a tourism and investment hub.
It’s expected to employ not less than 150,000 people.
The 10-year development project is a public-private partnership situated on 248 acres of land.
Even though the project is yet to commence, the chiefs of Osu have called on government to expedite action on the payment of the compensation.
The chiefs raised the concern when they paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Friday.
The Osu Mant?, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, who made the request, claimed he and his elders had been accused of receiving the compensation clandestinely.
In his response, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the issue of compensation was a matter of law and should not lead to the splitting of heads since it was their right.
He, therefore, directed the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Kofi Dzamesi to liase with the Ministers of Tourism and Finance to expedite action on the payment.
The President welcomed the resolve of the chiefs to ensure that this year’s Homowo festival celebration would be incident-free and pledged government’s backing in that regard.
He also lauded a suggestion by Nii Dowuona, who is also President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, for traditional councils to be allowed to have oversight over chieftaincy and traditional events.
He asked the Chieftaincy Minister to discuss the issue for legislation, if need be.
“Once traditional councils have been created for these paramountcies, issues pertaining to traditional issues, chieftaincy and everything, permissions or letters should be routed through the traditional councils. By so doing, we believe that it will minimize lots of chieftaincy issues,” Nii Kinka Dowuona VI added.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent