We won't allow chieftaincy disputes to mar security

President J.A. Kufuor has stated that although the government is debarred from interfering in the affairs of the Chieftaincy institution, it will deal decisively with chieftaincy matters that pose a security threat to the state.

He pointed out, however, that some chiefs in the country had done a lot of positive things, but expressed regret that the activities of other chiefs were impacting negatively on the country's development agenda.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister for Interior, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, at a grand durbar to mark this year's Akwantukese festival of the chiefs and people of New Juabeng at Koforidua last Sunday, the President pledged to collaborate with chiefs for the development of the country.

The Akwantukese festival marks the remembrance of the migration of the people from Juaben Ashanti to New Juabeng about 127 years ago.

The durbar also coincided with the inauguration of the New Juabeng Development Board and awards to a number of personalities who had contributed to the development of the area.

President Kufuor reiterated that government's desire to involve chiefs in the development of the traditional areas and the country as a whole “since they have the vision and are ready to contribute to the development effort.”

President Kufuor, therefore, expressed the hope that the chieftaincy institution would find ways of ensuring that the activities of its members did not affect the security of the state as well as the national development agenda.