President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would soon set up a committee to settle the protracted chieftaincy dispute at Winneba in the Effutu municipality of the Central Region.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the protracted chieftaincy problem and its other related matters were having serious effect on the annual Aboakyir Festival and also retarding development in the area.
The Minister for Railways, Joe Ghartey, made these known in a speech read on behalf of the president at the durbar of chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area to climax the historic Aboakyir Festival over the weekend.
President Nana Akufo-Addo however, did not stipulate the number of the membership of the proposed committee, but indicated that it would comprise prominent elites who would find a lasting solution to the chieftaincy impasse in the area.
He expressed concern about the way the festival, which has international and local recognition, has been losing its cultural beauty and value and appealed to the people to maintain peace and order in the area to attract more people during the festival.
President Akufo-Addo stated that all promises made to the people in the area during the 2016 electioneering campaign would be fulfilled.
The Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, underscored the need for the Forestry Commission to protect Ghana’s forests – which are used as hunting grounds for the animals during the Aboakyir Festival – from being destroyed by unscrupulous persons.
“It’s sad to see some youth of the area always wasting their precious energies on things which would not bring unity and development,” he lamented/
The paramount chief of the area, Neenyi Kobina Ghartey VII, stressed the need for politicians not to interference in the celebration of the festival so as to preserve its economic benefits to the Effutu community.
He appealed to the ministers of state and other stakeholders to come out with policies and programmes to enhance the socio-economic development of the area.
Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that only Tuafo Asafo No. 1 Company went for the hunting expedition without the Dentsifo Asafo No. 2 Company this year.
DAILY GUIDE observed that the Tuafo Asafo brought the first catch of the deer at 9:45am.
No reason was given as to why the Dentsifo Asafo did not participate in the festival.
President Nana Akufo-Addo presented GH¢5,000 and cartons of assorted drinks to the Effutu Traditional Council towards the celebration of the Aboakyir Festival.
From Sarah Afful, Winneba
affuslco@gmail.com