Chief Lashes War Drum Beaters

ODEEFUO OWUSU Amoaye II, chief of Appiadu in the Ashanti Region, has descended heavily on politicians who always preach war whenever they mount a political platform, describing them as “a bunch of unpatriotic beings who never fathered a child”. 

“Any parent and patriotic citizen who knows how difficult it is to raise a child would never wish for war for Ghana during the election period. Those people preaching war are not parents; they do not have children.

“As chiefs, we are debarred from doing active politics, but for the sake of peace which every sound man wishes, I am appealing to Ghanaians to cast their votes for those who preach peace, love, development and respect human rights,” he intoned.

The Appiadu Chief noted that without peace, there was no way the country could sustain its current developmental strides, reiterating that the electorate should vote against politicians who are calling for war if the election result was not in their favour.

He said the country had come a long way, thus the citizenry should in one accord reject, through the ballot box, those unpatriotic and selfish politicians whose only wish and desire was to win political power to enrich themselves and their families.

Odeefuo Amoaye entreated politicians to shun personal gains and endeavour to lead their people to prosperity so as to print an indelible mark in the nation's history.

“As politicians, you are expected to lead exemplary lifestyles worthy of emulation so that your name will always be mentioned even when you are dead and gone. To me, the essence of life is to get a good name rather than getting riches.”

He rained tons of praises on the NPP government, which he described as a godly, blessed government, for stabilizing the economy, transforming the socio-economic situation in the country and above all maintaining peace.

“The introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to replace the 'cash and carry system', Capitation Grant, School Feeding Programme, building of schools, roads, hospitals, all pioneered by the government within seven years, are remarkable achievements which deserve praises.

“Ghana did not discover oil in commercial quantities for nothing; in fact the oil had been with us since time immemorial but we discovered it during the era of the NPP government.

“This is an ample proof to all and sundry that the Almighty God has indeed blessed the Kufuor-led NPP government.”

Odeefuo Amoaye II gave the remarks at his Palace at Appiadu when the Member of Parliament (MP) of Oforikrom Constituency, Hon. Elizabeth Agyeman called on him to ask for his blessings before she embarks on her campaign to run for the constituency seat again on the ticket of the NPP.

The visit by Hon. Agyeman was also to thank the chief for his support and numerous good counsels during the MP's three years in office.

Odeefuo Amoaye II gave thumbs up for Hon. Agyeman for performing to satisfaction since she ascended the throne, and gave her the green light to run for the seat again, noting, “You did not disappoint us and I give you my permission to run for the seat again to help sustain the developmental works going on in the area”.

Despite praising the MP, the Appiadu Chief observed that more needed to be done to take the constituency to newer heights, and charged the MP to provide the Appiadu Township with water tanks and also assist in the construction of a Community Centre, which Hon. Agyeman agreed to do.

The Oforikrom MP, enumerating some of her achievements so far, said she had registered 3000 people from the constituency with the NHIS via GH¢10,000 HIPC Fund, adding that she had successfully secured scholarships for 192 students in the constituency to further their education at the university level both locally and abroad.

She continued that she built toilets, provided good road networks and extended electricity to some of the areas in the constituency that were not connected to the national electrification grid.

Still on her achievements, Hon. Agyeman noted that she aided a number of women in the constituency to access loans from some banks to support their businesses.

She stated that more developmental projects were still in the pipeline, and passionately appealed to delegates of the party to vote massively for her at the party's constituency primary, to enable her to execute them.

In a related development, Nana Fredua Mensah, Chief of Ayigya, a suburb of the constituency, had also okayed Hon. Agyeman's desire to seek re-election, saying, “You have done well and you are welcomed to run for the seat again”.

This was when the MP called on him to announce her intention to run for the seat again.

From Fred J.A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi