I Will Settle Land Cases Between Govt And Chiefs

The President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, says he will liaise with the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to settle all outstanding land issues between the government and chiefs in Accra.

He gave the assurance Wednesday when members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs called on him at the Castle, Osu, to commiserate with him on the demise of President John Evans Atta Mills and to congratulate him on his elevation to the office of the President.

President Mahama said when things settle down he would sit down with the chiefs to see how to resolve the issues relating to government acquired lands.

He said the late President Mills had already started work in that regard.

President Mahama noted that Accra was the nerve centre of the country by its position as the capital city of Ghana.

He, therefore, expressed joy that chieftaincy disputes in Accra were being resolved.

He assured the chiefs that he would cooperate with them to continue to maintain peace and stability in the region.

The President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nene Abram Akuako III, described the late President Mills as a man of peace, tolerance, humility and integrity.

He said the President Mills supported the renovation of the building of the Regional House of Chiefs and embarked on several projects, including the Ada Sea Defence.

Therefore, he said, the death had come to the chiefs and people of Accra as a great shock.

In a related development, President Mahama has affirmed his resolve to continue all the projects initiated by the late President John Evans Atta Mills, particularly, the establishment of the two universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions and the eastern corridor road project.

He made the pledge when members of the Western, Central, Volta and Eastern Regional Houses of Chiefs called on him at the Castle, Osu to express their condolence on the passing on of President Mills and to congratulate him on assumption of the office of the President.

President Mahama said the establishment of the universities was dear to the heart of the late President, and pledged to support the processes leading to their establishment.

The President said the projects started by the late President, such as the elimination of schools under trees, the gas project in the Western Region, the Ada Sea Defence and the numerous road projects were meant to better the lives of the people.

Therefore, he said, the government under his leadership would continue with the projects to their logical conclusion.

On the Eastern corridor road project, President Mahama said a Brazilian counterpart funding of $40 million had been made available, and indicated that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning was considering the technical details.

Besides, he said, a government delegation had just returned from China with a favourable response from the China Development Bank (CDB) for the gas project in the Western Region.

President Mahama described the death of President Mills as a great loss to the country, because he had good plans for the country.

He asked the chiefs to collaborate with him being fairly young, to be able to carry out the work left behind by President Mills.

The President pledged to continue to exhibit the same humility, honesty and integrity of the late President in the prosecution of government business.

He asked the chiefs to collaborate with the government to give a befitting burial to former President Mills.

Members of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs were led by their Vice-President, Okotwasuo Oworae Agyekum III, the Central Region was led by their President, Dasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, President of the House, the Volta Region was led by Togbe Afede XIV, President of the House, while the Western Region was led by its President, Awulae Attibrukusu III.

They all praised the former President for his humility, honesty, integrity, devotion to the country and love for God.

They promised to support President Mahama to continue with the good work started by the late President.