Minister appeals to chiefs to stem disputes

March 17, 2011
Sunyani, March 17, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to chiefs in the region to stem chieftaincy and land disputes to sustain peace and development.

"We must resolve not to allow conflict to retard development in the communities, since huge sums of scarce resources are usually required to restore peace when violence breaks up. Above all productive time and effort are wasted on the management of conflicts," he said.

Speaking at the general meeting of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, he said chieftaincy and land disputes could scare off potential investors that the government had made efforts to attract to the region.

He appealed to the chiefs to resolve all the chieftaincy disputes pending before the House of Chiefs.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the region remained largely peaceful throughout the year, although, there were a few patches of security hotspots, in relation to chieftaincy, litigation, land disputes, armed robbery and allegations of ritual murders.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, Kukuomanhene and President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, said in 2010 the House attempted to have some cases settled by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism but most of them could not yield positive results.

"We shall pursue this approach this year with vigour. We are also planning to move into mediation process to resolve some serious rifts/misunderstanding arising in conflict areas, to prevent legal tussles between rival stools, families and kingmakers from eruption," he said.

He urged every paramount chief to ensure that the unregistered chiefs in their traditional areas are all registered this year.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi expressed gratitude to the government for recognizing the good work by chiefs by increasing the monthly allowances of paramount chiefs from GH¢ 100.00 to GH¢ 150.00, whilst that for the registered queen mothers have been increased from GHC80.00 to GH¢ 100.00.

He appealed to the government to assist the House to complete its office block.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi appealed to teachers to go back to the classroom in the public interest in view of the promise given to them by the President.

GNA