'Support Awoamefia's Development Efforts'

The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr Ken Ashigbey, has called on Anlo citizens to support the efforts being made by the Awoamefia of Anlo, Togbui Sri lll, to bring development to the area.

He said since the government could not solely be responsible for the development of the country, there was the need to “have all hands on deck”.

Mr Ashigbey made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Awoamefia at Anloga on Saturday as part of his tour of the Volta Region.

“There is the urgent need to mobilise our people, particularly the youth, to see how we can bring jobs and employment to the area,” he said

He said ‘the Keta municipality abounds in both material and human resources and “what we need is to put those resources together for the benefit of the people”.

He expressed concern over the fact that the Anlo State, which is famous for its merchandise activities, was now a pale shadow of itself because of the drift of its citizens to the urban areas for non-existent jobs.

He underscored the need for them to come back home and help in developing the Anlo State.

Mr Ashigbey said the oil find in the Keta Basin would open up the area for more opportunities and stressed the need for conscious investments in the area.

He advocated the establishment of a university in the area, saying, “We have all the necessary ingredients to be able to do that.”

“Chieftaincy in modern times is about development, so whatever Togbui wants to do for the benefit of the people and Ghana as a whole, we must support it,” he said.

For his part, the Awoamefia lauded Mr Ashigbey’s vision towards the development of the area and the country as a whole.

He said now that peace had returned to Anlo, his major preoccupation was now tilted towards the mobilisation of the people for development purposes.

“l am aware that chieftaincy in modern times is not about putting on rich cloths and sandals and moving about but putting in place programmes that will enure to the benefit of the people,” he said.

He used the occasion to appeal to political leaders to support the government in its quest to ensure free, fair and transparent elections at the 2012 polls.

He further urged them to be decorous and avoid statements that were likely to inflame passions and disturb the peace the country currently enjoyed.

“This is the only way we can defend and protect our democratic gains that are the envy on the African continent and the world at large,” he said.

The Awoamefia also appealed to the media to be more responsible and give fair and balanced coverage to all political parties, adding, “The media have a crucial role in the sustenance of our democratic credentials.”