Newly Created Akyemmansa District Inaugurated

Hundreds of dancing and cheering people from communities in the newly created Akyemmansa District at the weekend poured onto the streets of Akyem Ofoase, the capital, to celebrate the creation of the district.
     

The cheering crowd, dressed in white attire later attended a grand durbar in the town, organised by 14 out of the 15 chiefs in the district to unofficially inaugurate the district themselves in the absence of any government official.
     

The official inauguration of the district assembly was put on hold, following protests from the people of Akyem Ayirebi that the capital should be sited in their town instead of Akyem Ofoase.
     

Nana Ofosu Kwabi III, chief of Akyem Etwereso, who acted as the spokesman for the chiefs thanked President John Agyekum Kufuor for fulfilling the promise he made to them prior to the 2004 general election.
     

'Today, we declare to the whole of Ghana that as far the chiefs are concerned we have inaugurated the Akyemmansa District.'
     

Nana Kwabi called on the government to gather the courage to play its part so that the district would start functioning. He appealed to Nana Acquah Frempong, Birim North District Chief Executive, to provide the necessary furniture and other equipment, in addition to funds to enable the new district to function.
     

Mr David Oppong-Kusi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi called for unity and co-operation from the people to move the district forward. He refuted allegations that he masterminded the selection of the capital at Akyem Ofoase, instead of Akyem Ayirebi and said Legislative Instrument (LI) 1919 made Akyem Ofoase as the capital.
     

Mr Oppong-Kusi said the district was not only for people of Akyem Ofoase but for all the communities and appealed for closer co-operation from all to help solve their problems of lack of good drinking water and poor road network, among others.
     

Mr Kwame Okyere Boateng, Assembly Member for Akyem Chia, on behalf of 21 assembly members who attended the function, pledged their total support for Akyem Ofoase as the capital.
     

He said they would work in unity to help accelerate the pace of development in the area.