body-container-line-1
02.07.2009 Politics

BA chiefs call to liaise with gov't for success of Bui Project

02.07.2009 LISTEN
By Michael Boateng , Sunyani - Ghanaian Chronicle

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has called on Brong-Ahafo chiefs to liaise with the government to ensure that the Bui Hydro Electric Power Project, initiated by the Kufour-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, is completed as planned.

Mr. Baffour Awuah who made this call at the 2009 General Meeting of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani, noted that effective cooperation of the chiefs and government would help fulfill the dream to complete the project, as expected.

As the former Regional Minister, Mr. Baffour Awuah was honoured for his invaluable contributions to the chieftaincy institution, and the region's development.

He commended the House for the honour done him, adding that he would always support the development of the region and the agenda of the chiefs, so that Brong-Ahafo achieves its development targets.

According to Mr. Baffour Awuah, the problem of accessible potable water would be a thing of the past, since the deal, which was brokered by the erstwhile NPP administration with its French counterparts to initiate a massive water supply project in most parts of the region, had recently been commissioned by the Vice President, John Mahama.

He noted that the project would go a long way to solve the perpetual water problems in the region.

On his part, the President of the House, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, revealed that the Regional House of Chiefs had received a grant of GH¢10,000 to lead the crusade against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.

He said the project, under the Multi Sectoral HIV/AIDS Programme (MSHAPO), had been approved by the Ghana Aids Commission.

According to Nana Aterkyi, chiefs in the region would be organised to effectively participate in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic under the programme.

He said the pandemic has been a threat to the socio-economic development of the region, giving statistics that almost 20,000 people in the region were infected with HIV/AIDS, which out of the number, officials say over 2,000 new infections were reported in 2008 alone.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi also expressed dissatisfaction against the number of chieftaincy disputes in the region, saying there were 58 chieftaincy cases pending before the House, which he totally condemned.

He said in order to resolve the many outstanding cases, the Regional House of Chiefs had decided to adopt the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, and appealed to all chiefs and feuding parties involved in chieftaincy disputes, to exercise patience to allow the due process of the law to take its course.

body-container-line