Edinaman needs GH¢76,500

The Omanhen of the Edina Traditional Council, Nana Kwadwo Conduah VI, has appealed to the government, individuals and organisations, as well as cooperate bodies, to come to the aid of the council with financial assistance, to make possible the celebration of this year's Bakatue Festival.

He said the council would need GH¢76,500 to celebrate the festival, which is dear to the heart of many Africans in the Diaspora.

Speaking at the Traditional Council sitting at Elmina on Tuesday, Nana Conduah made it clear that he had decided to postpone the Bakatue Festival this year, owing to financial difficulties.

But, after a hot debate among the chiefs, it was unanimously agreed that the world-acclaimed festival must be held, portraying true democracy in the council.

In view of that Nana Conduah has called on the government, individuals and organisations to financially assist the council in cash or in kind.

The Omanhen also used the occasion to thank former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, for dredging the Benya Lagoon.

He, however, said that the NPP could not construct the proposed fishing harbour it cut the sod for, and impressed on President John Evans Atta Mills to bring the construction of the harbour to reality, because Elmina is a fishing community where most of people depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

In addition, the Omanhen called on government to assist farmers in and around the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem District (KEEA) to improve on their food production capacity.

Nana Conduah also made it clear that he would personally make sure that Rev. Mrs. Veronica Essuman Nelson, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) nominee for the KEEA was confirmed, to enable the assembly function.

He said he had never witnessed an assembly election before, but this time round, he would visit the assembly hall where the voting would take place, at a date yet to be announced.

In a speech read on her behalf by Mr. Kwame Oppong, the newly-appointed Chief Director for the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC), the Central Regional Minister, Ms. Ama Benyiwa Doe, appealed to the chiefs to help redeem the lost glory of the region in education.

She asked them to reduce the incidence of chieftaincy disputes which retarded development.

She again urged them to eschew land disputes, to boost investor confidence.

Ms. Benyiwa Doe said the CRCC would support the traditional council celebrate the festival, and also appealed to the chiefs to talk to their subjects to keep their environment clean, in order to boost tourism.

The Member of Parliament for KEEA, Joseph Samuel Annan, who is also the Deputy Minister for Education, in a speech read for him, pledged to contribute to the celebration of the Bakatue.

He therefore called for unity among the people, to ensure the development of the area.