The rich should not influence chieftaincy - DCE

Woraba (C/R), May 11, GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Mfansteman, Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur has appealed to the rich not to use their wealth to influence the selection of chiefs.

Speaking at the 11th anniversary of the enstoolment of Nana Ataapim Kwenu VIII as Chief of Woraba near Cape Coast, the DCE advised kingmakers to document the inheritance system in their areas especially where there was more than one Royal House to avoid impostors from ascending onto stools.

There are too many loopholes in the inheritance system, which people who are not even members of the royal families could exploit to create confusion, the DCE said.

Nana Ataapim Kwenu who is also the Mankrado of Nkusukum Traditional Area was made the Regent of the town in 1984 but due to a chieftaincy dispute he could not be as the substantive Chief until 1994. Mr Quainoo Arthur expressed regret that chieftaincy, which should have been the catalyst for development was rather becoming an institution retarding progress as a result of disputes. "If a chieftaincy dispute could drag on for 10 years then Woraba was without any development for 10 years," the DCE stated.

He appealed to the people who were engulfed in the dispute to forget the past and rally behind Nana Kwenu to move the town forward. Each and everyone should put his or her hands on deck so that the town can regain what it has lost over the 10 years, he said.

Nana Kwenu expressed his willingness to release land to non-residents and stated that the land had been surveyed and documented. He appealed to people especially investors to approach him for land to establish industries to create jobs for the unemployed youth in the area.

Okese Essandoh VII, Paramount Chief of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, cut the sod for a 500 million-cedi palace project for the town