Moves to rebuild palace of Togbega Gabusu underway
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the activation of the process to rebuild the palace of Togbega Gabusu, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area in the Volta Region, which was burnt down by rampaging Muslim youth on June 11, 2012.
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At a rally of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Hohoe yesterday, he said the government was also undertaking the evaluation of property destroyed in the mayhem to ensure the payment of compensation to the victims.
The President said the moves were in line with the decision by the government to implement the findings of the committee that investigated the riots.
"We have started with the Togbega's Palace, " President Mahama said.
On that day, the youth of the Zongo community in Hohoe went berserk and vandalised several properties, including the chief's palace.
They also set ablaze a vehicle belonging to Togbega Gabusu.
The riots were sparked by the exhumation of the body of the Hohoe Chief Imam who was buried a day earlier.
The Muslims pointed accusing fingers at the paramount chief of the area for the act.
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A committee was subsequently set up to look into the riots and make recommendations for the restoration of peace in the area.
Among the recommendations made by the committee was the rebuilding of the palace and replacement of lost properties of victims.
Peace
President Mahama expressed delight that the people of Hohoe were now living in peace
"Hohoe holds a lot of significance for me," he told the teeming crowd that turned out to meet him.
Typical of the campaign in the Volta Region so far, people came out in their numbers to listen to the President.
President Mahama mentioned the economic importance of Hohoe and said the completion of the Eastern Corridor road that passed through the municipality would enhance economic activities.
He gave an assurance that the road project would be completed.
"I promise that this road will be completed," he told the chiefs and people of Hohoe.
President Mahama further announced that 10 kilometres of Hohoe town roads had been awarded on contract for rehabilitation, while an additional 15 kilometres are to be asphalted.
"The contracts have been awarded and the contractors are ready to start work in a matter of days or weeks," he said.
Taking a look at agriculture, he said the government was working to revive the cocoa industry at Kpando.
He said no government had raised the producer price of cocoa better than the NDC administration.
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President commended
In a welcome speech read on behalf of the nine paramount chiefs in the Hohoe Municipality, the Paramount Chief of Alavanyo, Togbe Dedze Atakorah, listed some of the many development projects the Mahama administration had undertaken in the municipality and said the chiefs and people would forever be grateful to the President.