The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has appealed to the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, to use his vast knowledge in history to codify chieftaincy lineage.
While referring to the recently outdoored Kwahu State Book, detailing the lineage of the area, President Akufo-Addo said he was impressed with it and believed if other traditional authorities emulated what the Kwahus have done, it would help curb chieftaincy disputes in the country.
He had earlier emphasised how governments waste scarce public resources to reduce chieftaincy crisis, indicating that those funds could be used to develop the areas involved.
However, he told the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II and his entourage that he was only suggesting to them what he witnessed in Kwahu.
“So now I leave it to you. I know you are versed in history. Nana Dormaahene, your history goes far. We hear. Those about Asante and the rest, we hear all of them. If you bring that idea for us to replicate [what has been done in Kwahu], it will help all of us for peace to decorate chieftaincy,” he said in the Akan language [translated into English by The Chronicle].
The Bono Regional House of Chiefs had visited President Akufo-Addo yesterday at Jubilee House, to congratulate him for his re-election.
The delegation commended government for its programmes and policies and also tabled several demands.
Free SHS, 1D1F
In his address, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II particularly commended President Akufo-Addo for initiating bold programmes and policies.
He mentioned the flagship Free Senior High School programme and the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy.
According to the Dormaahene, these initiatives were positively impacting the lives of people and as such, the initiator deserved commendation.
“Free SHS is something we will thank you for. I know a lot of us have benefitted from it. That is not the only thing; One District, One Factory. You have done that too and it is benefitting us. The things you are still doing, if I want to say them, I may lose focus for which I came here,” he said in Bono language.
Demands
He listed dozens of things he would appreciate if the President turns his attention to, which includes the Sunyani Airport and roads.
He also stated that his people would love that the President broke the ground for phase 2 of the construction on the day he cuts sod to open the phase one of the airport project.
He wants the President to also look at Berekum-Sampa, Sampa-Wenchi, Dormaa-Nkran-Kwanta, Dormaa-Akramaso-Gambi No. 2 roads and reconstruct them.
The Dormaahene informed President Akufo-Addo that the construction of some feeder roads in the Jaman South, North and Banda municipalities among others, were at a snail pace, a situation he urged the President to look at.
He added that there were some big towns in the Bono Region with bad roads, compared to others in the same area.
The chief also told the president that the region is blessed with two universities – University of Energy and Natural Resources and Sunyani Technical University – but they lack infrastructure.
The chief also wants President Akufo-Addo to uplift the Sunyani Regional Hospital to a Teaching Hospital. He argued that the catchment area of the hospital is large and that it will serve a lot of people, including those in the North.
A building for the Regional House of Chiefs was also mentioned to President Akufo-Addo. He indicated that the chiefs had raised some funds for the construction, but that was not enough to finish and, therefore, appealed to the government to intervene for them to have a befitting edifice.
President’s Response
In his response, President Akufo-Addo commended the region for producing personalities to help him in his government, such as the Health and Employment Ministers.
According to the President, he could not recall when a government enjoyed industrial peace like what he is enjoying today, though there have been a few agitations by workers.
“Yes, agitations from workers here and there are inevitable. But if you look at it, the atmosphere for industrial peace for Ghana in my period is unprecedented,” he said in a mixture of English and Twi.
The president further told the chiefs that he would soon go to Sunyani to open the airport, announcing that Passion Air has decided to extend its flight to the region.
For the second phase, President Akufo-Addo said it will begin in September, as it has been accommodated for in the mid-year budget to be presented in July.
