President's hometown gets new chief

Kumasi, April 20, GNA- A 56-year-old London-based businessman has been enstooled the chief of Dabaa, President John Agyekum Kufuor's hometown, under the stool name Nana Kwaku Gyamfi II.

He is known in private life as Mr Kwasi Owusu Mensah and succeeds his late uncle, Nana Kwaku Gyamfi, who died nine years ago.

Swearing the oath of allegiance to Oheneba Kwame Kyeretwie, Apagyahene, at a well-attended colourful ceremony at the Apagyafiem in Kumasi, the new chief said he would provide the required leadership to mobilise his people for development.

Nana Gyamfi said the promotion of education would be his topmost priority, pointing out that the present situation where many young girls in the community dropped out of school to become teenage mothers was not good.

"It is important that we give every necessary support and encouragement to the innocent and largely ignorant young ones to remain in school to pursue academic careers".

He noted that it was through this that the future security and growth of the community could be assured.

The chief said he also had a vision to complement government's efforts at solving the unemployment problem facing the people through vocational skills training.

Oheneba Kyeretwie advised him to be loyal and listen to good counselling from his elders.

He should also conduct himself well so as to bring honour and dignity to the chieftaincy institution. 20 April 04