Let’s eschew rancour and develop in peace

Nii Tetteh Otu II, paramount chief of the Kpone traditional area, has appealed to the people of Kpone, in the Greater Accra Region, especially those he described as trouble makers, in the traditional area to eschew negative tendencies that tend to impact negatively on the development of the area.

"Those who are bent on causing trouble should think seriously of the consequences of their action," he warned, adding "We should eschew hatred, envy and malice and all negative and destructive tendencies that tend to take us back to the old days of wars and rancour, and rather, we should concentrate our energies on things that bring about progress like education, health, sanitation and infrastructure."

Nii Tetteh Otu II, who is also the president of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, made the declaration when he cut the sod for work on a modern senior secondary school project initiated by the chiefs and people of Kpone at Kpone last Friday.

According to the paramount chief, every chief has a moral and social responsibility and moral uprightness to lead his people to develop progressively.

He said this has been his vision ever since he was enstooled as paramount chief of the area and that was why he refused the desire of his elders to build a palace for him when he was initially put on the stool.

Nii Tetteh Otu II expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the project and declared, Tthis is a memorable occasion for me because one day when I am long gone and the history of this senior secondary school comes to be written, at least, there would be one sentence reserved for me; thus 'The Senior Secondary School was built during the reign of Nii Tetteh Otu II."

The Member of Parliament of Kpone Katamanso, Hon. Afotey Laryea Agbo, who also spoke at the function, reiterated the earlier appeal by the paramount chief to the people to put behind them the bickering, rancour and division among them and come together with one accord and develop Kpone to become of the most developed areas in the country.

On his part, the Tema Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. David Annan, observed that the time for begging or waiting for the government to undertake certain developmental projects are over and commended the chiefs and people of the area for their self help project, which according to him is long overdue.

The MCE, who was born and bred in Kpone, asserted that there are a lot of people who live in the town at present who were academically good and would have been occupying very good positions in society by now, but because they could not have access to higher education, they are still languishing in poverty.

He pledged his outfit's commitment to support the project to ensure that it becomes a reality.

The Hon. MP also pledged to contribute ¢50 million out of his share of the MP's common fund towards the development of the project, adding "that will not be all, because I am prepared to do more to support the project."

He called for the establishment of a development fund to get all the companies to contribute to for use for developmental projects in the area.

He appealed to members of the various political parties in the area to put their political affiliations aside and come together as one people who are determined to develop their area for the benefit of their people and posterity.

A seed capital of ¢100 million donated by Messrs Barry Callebaut, a cocoa processing company located in the area.

Other development partners, including VALCO, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and others pledged their support for the project.

The proposed Senior Secondary School is to be located at Kpone on an 11- acre plot of land offered by the chiefs and people.

When fully developed it will have facilities, which include a three-storey classroom block, a two- storey Administration block, library, laboratories for Science and Computer, Workshops, Assembly hall, Dormitories, Kitchen and Dining Hall, Staff Bungalows and Playing Field.

Courses to be offered include General Arts, Vocational, - Home Economics and Visual Art, Science, Business, Woodworks, Building Technology and Automobile.