Adaklu intensifies campaign for district capital

Accra, May 10, GNA - The chiefs and people of Adaklu-Anyigbe Traditional Area on Tuesday appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to intervene in the dispute with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development over the location of the capital of the newly created Adaklu-Anyigbe District.

They have intensified their campaign against making Agotime Kpetoe the capital instead of Adaklu Waya.

Togbe Agbobada, a Divisional Chief, who read a statement on behalf of the chiefs and people at a press conference in Accra, said in the interest of rule of law, justice, history, geography and administrative convenience Adaklu-Waya should be the district capital.

He appealed to President Kufuor to direct the implementation of recommendations of several institutions that had recommended that Adaklu-Waya be made the capital of the new Adaklu-Anyigbe District. The institutions, according to Togbe Agbobada, are the Electoral Commission, the Asogli State of Ho, Volta Regional House of Chiefs and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Other leaders at the press conference were Mr Vincent Arhin, Mr Edwin Billy Komla and Mr Dzifa Agbeve, all youth leaders. Mr Prosper Delali Fu, Assembly Member for the Abuadi Electoral Area and a cross-section of the people.

They contended that through the creation of the new district, "two peaceful traditional areas have been set at loggerheads defeating the purpose of decentralisation.

"We cannot fight government. Government is powerful. We are powerless but to the destitute the Asafo drums should not cease...." Answering questions, Mr Agbeve, President of the Adaklu Namianyo Youth Association, confirmed media reports of the destoolment of Mama Afedima II as Queenmother of Adaklu-Abuadi.

He said the due process for the destoolment was adhered to and endorsed by Togbega Gbogbi Atsa V, Paramount Chief of Adaklu Traditional Area and all the Divisional Chiefs.

Meanwhile, Ms Edem Wutor, Research Officer of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, told the GNA at Ho that the process of withdrawing recognition of chiefs or queenmothers was an elaborate one, especially if that traditional leader was gazetted.

She said often affected chiefs challenged their removal at the courts after traditional rites had been performed to remove them and this could drag on for years.