The Chief of Dodowa, Nene Okukrubuor Tei Kwesi Agyemang V, has called on politicians and civil society to consider giving chiefs the opportunity to take active part in partisan politics in order that they may attract development projects to their areas.
Nene Agyemang made this known at the launch of this year’s Mgmayem festival of the people of the Shai Traditional Area at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.
“Chiefs being custodians of lands in the country, in consultation with the people, are capable of deciding for themselves which political leaders they believe can help develop their areas,” he said.
He expressed worry over the lack of development initiatives in some parts of the country, particularly with regard to good roads, water and education.
These, in addition to the lack of employment, he said, were major concerns for the chiefs and people of the Shai Traditional Area.
“We have all the resources that should make us great and competitive but that has not been the case because we are not allowed to choose our leaders, especially a district chief executive,” he said.
Nene Agyemang urged Ghanaians, therefore, to support the call for chiefs to be given the chance to engage in partisan politics.
He, however, urged chiefs to remain calm as they awaited moves to pave way for their involvement in partisan politics, since there were already talks with the authorities in that direction.
Chieftaincy disputes
For his part, Nene Nornor Sordje V, the chief of Lenordje and acting President of the Shai Traditional Council, expressed concern with chieftaincy disputes which had gone on for many years and had stifled development in the area.
He said the chieftaincy disputes had curtailed growth in education, health, employment and other social interventions.
“The people of Shai have gone through difficult times and it is now time for us to sit up and unite in order to attract investment rather than fight among ourselves,” he stressed.
Nene Sordje urged his colleagues to desist from engaging in land disputes and unnecessary quarrels and concentrate to bring development to their areas.
“Government alone will not be able to bring development to our area unless we come together and make our needs known in order to attract investment,” he said.
Background
According to Nene Sordje, the Mgmayem festival is held annually and brings citizens of the area, both home and abroad, together to plan for ways to bring about development.
He said the festival is also held in commemoration of the resolution of famine that afflicted the people centuries ago.
He said at this time on the calendar of the traditional area, all funerals are suspended until the festival is over and urged the people to respect the arrangement. He said stiff punishement awaits anyone who goes against the order.
He said the Mgmayem festival would commence on September 5, 2016 at Ayikuma and thence to Manyajorpanya and climax at Dodowa.
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