Let's unite for the development of Osu - Osu Traditional Council

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA – The 13-member Osu Traditional Council has been inaugurated with a call on them to use the institution to unite the people for the total development of the Osu State.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, Osu Mantse and Paramount Chief of Osu Traditional Area is the President.

Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Ada Matse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, gave the advice in an address at a colourful durbar of chiefs and people of Osu.

The Osu Traditional Council is the third to be inaugurated after Ngleshie Alata and Nungua out of the six paramountcies created for La, Nungua, Teshie, Tema and Ngleshie Alata in 2011 in the Greater Accra Region by the National House of Chiefs and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture.

He said “the Osu Traditional Council is a government establishment which takes care of all citizens of Osu area but not for any individual” and that people should be encouraged to take the opportunity to send their chieftaincy cases to the Council for settlement.

Nene Kabu Akuaku reminded the chiefs that the chieftaincy institution is a noble one and they should work hard for amicable settlement of disputes within the societies and ensure peaceful co-existence for all Ghanaians.

He expressed gratitude to the National House of Chiefs and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture for making it possible for the six stools to be elevated to paramountcies.

“I am hopeful that the inauguration of the Osu Traditional Council will further enhance the administration of chieftaincy in this region and I hereby today, declare it inaugurated,” he said.

Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, appealed to the people of Osu to close their ranks and be united to dissolve the old hatred, discrimination and prejudice among themselves completely.

He said they should cherish and sustain the peace and unity to initiate and support projects that would change the lot of the people.

Nii Afotey-Agbo said the numerous chieftaincy disputes and litigation in the Greater Accra Region was detrimental to developments in the communities and that monies that could be used in improving the lot of school children and establishing societal projects such as libraries, community centres,

“Sadly, the source of these monies is the very lands which you hold in trust for our people who do not benefit from litigations and conflicts.”

He said chieftaincy disputes and litigations must be resolved through the goodwill of all the parties involved rather than the law courts and that there was the need for all interested parties to demonstrate a commitment towards peaceful resolution.

Nii Afotey-Agbo said “letting certain things go could prove very challenging, however, the solutions to meet these challenges are values upon which our success depends and that is to say goodwill, honesty, courage, fair play, tolerance, loyalty and patriotism which have been inculcated in us since our childhood days and we need to return to these social values.

“This commitment would first have to be demonstrated by the chiefs, queen mothers, elders and opinion leaders. Chieftaincy disputes and land litigations which have retarded our progress can no longer be a way of life of our people. We cannot continue to use land guards to terrorize our people and cause them to be physically deformed or even lose their lives,” he said.

The Regional Minister said the time had come for Gas to take their destiny into their hands and that if they failed to make a difference by ironing out their differences and change the course of history, then posterity would never forgive them.

Nii Afotey-Agbo said individuals ought to be responsible citizens and observe all the electoral rules as the country approaches the December election and that respect should be accorded the Electoral Commission officials to conduct the exercise without any hindrance or threat.

“This is the only way to ensure fairness,” he said, adding that “in this regard, I implore you as custodians and embodiment of our heritage to continue to use your wisdom and experience to offer advice for political leaders who come to you. Let us use our chieftaincy institutions to speak against political intolerance and the use of abusive languages in our body politic as we approach the general elections”.

He said the State alone cannot ensure prosperity and national development and as a government it would continue to deepen positive relations between the State and the traditional authorities in that regard.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona in his welcoming address assured the government that he would leave no stone unturned to work towards the development, peace and unity in the area and the entire society.

He appealed to the indigenes of Osu to unite and work together for the development of the area.

He said the establishment of the Traditional Council would not only go a long way in improving the administration of chieftaincy at Osu or in Ga but in the entire region of Greater Accra and thanked all who made it possible for the elevation of the Stool to a paramountcy and the setting of the

The Osu Traditional Council has 22 communities under it.

GNA