Omanhene appeals to former President Kufuor to intervene in ex-gratia impasse

The Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obrifo Ahunak Ahbor Ankobea II, has appealed to former President J.A. Kufuor to intervene in the Chinery Hesse ex-gratia impasse which has generated controversy in the country.

Making the appeal through the GNA at Apam on Friday, the Omanhene said since a group of the beneficiaries held the that the Chinery Hesse report was approved by the former President and the then Parliament, the sitting President had no authority to review it, it became imperative that intervention of the former President could save the situation.

The impasse, he said, “posed a threat to our young democracy and the earlier it was resolved, the better it would be for national security.”

He appealed to the government and the members of the current Parliament to soften their stands on the issue and consider future leaders who used “their bare floor as chairs, tables and exercise books or slates in some schools.”

Taking entrenched stand on the issue could be a recipe for industrial unrest in the country as some workers were waiting patiently for the recommended ex-gratia to be paid, for them to insist on their pound of flesh, he pointed out, adding, “if that happened the nation's economy could be thrown out of gear.”

“The laws are made for man and man has power to amend them to suit a situation,” the Omanhene stated.

Obrifo Ahor Ankobea appealed to the National Peace Council and all well- meaning citizens to intervene, saying that they should not wait for things to get out of hand before stepping in.