Let's preserve sanctity of chieftaincy institution - Okyenhene

The President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has called for the preservation of the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution in order for it to play its role in the socio-economic development of the country.

According to him, the institution was coming under intense pressure which was worrying particularly the unorthodox destoolment of chiefs in some parts of the Eastern region.

He said this canker called for concerted efforts to nip such situations in the bud.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin who is also the Okyenhene of the Abuakwa Traditional Area, made the call at the end-of-year general meeting of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs in Koforidua.

Cases

He said even though the House was able to dispose of four chieftaincy cases during the year, there were other sixteen cases pending before the House and therefore suggested that "we need to adopt aggresive measures to dispose of many cases as possible in the ensuing year.

"I appeal to Nananom to avail themselves any time they are called upon to discharge this constitutionally imposed duties to enable us achieve this noble goal," he added.

Expansion project

Osagyefo Ofori Panin said owing to inadequate office accomodation at the House, efforts were being made for the expansion of offices some of which are at the foundation level but have stalled due to inadequate funding.

He called on the House to come out with innovative ideas aimed at raising the needed funds to complete the projects.

Environmental degradation and sanitation

According to the Okyenhene, the issue of environmental degradation through illegal gold mining and chainsaw operations has become an albatross on the neck of the country and that as a result the Birim River could no longer serve as a source of water for many towns and rural communities as the water has been polluted and could simply not be treated for safe consumption.

"There must therefore be conscious efforts to deal with these problems so as to make Ghana a safe place for human habitation", he concluded.

Regional Minister

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere, gave the assurance that the government would solve the problem of roads in the region.

He assured the chiefs that government was working hard to accelerate the development of the region.