The Gyaasehene of Abotoase, Nana Ansah Asiedu, has appealed to the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to resume the payment of compensations due them as a result of the construction of the Volta Lake, which continues to claim their lands.
His request to Nana Akufo-Addo is borne out of the fact that, “President Mahama is already gone. He has lost the elections.”
Nana Ansah Asiedu made this known when the NPP flagbearer paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Abotoase, in the Biakoye constituency, on Monday, October 24, 2016.
The Abotoase Chief explained that under the resettlement package, which was instituted by a Legal Instrument passed by Parliament, “compensation payments commenced under President Kufuor. The late President Mills continued with these payments. However, upon assuming office, President Mahama has decided to stop paying compensation to us.”
Funds from the resettlement package, according to Nana Ansah Asiedu, were used in the construction of the only institution of higher learning in the town, the Aboatse Senior High and Technical school.
The cessation of payment of compensation to them, he added, has led to the Chiefs and people seeking redress at the courts.
“Maybe, before he exits power, he will still decide not to pay us compensation. Nonetheless, he will go (in December). He has no choice but to go. So we are appealing to you (Nana Akufo-Addo) to resume the payments of compensation when you come into office in Jamuary 2017 because it is the means by which some of my people survive,” the Abotoase Chief added.