Ho, April 21, GNA - The Anlo Traditional Council on Tuesday petitioned President John Agyekum Kufuor to remove the Keta District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Emmanuel Vorkeh from office for what they described as his persistent hostile attitude towards the Council.

They alleged that Mr Vorkeh interfered in chieftaincy matters and unrelentingly prevented the traditional leaders from "performing their rightful and constitutional duties".

These were contained in a statement signed by the 11 divisional chiefs Of the Anlo Traditional Council and read by Togbi Sri III, Regent and acting President of the Council, when the group paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa at his Office in Ho on Tuesday.

The statement said the DCE "has on occasions past, forcibly prevented the 11 Chiefs from performing their traditional functions meant to educate our people on government policies", at the adopted meeting venue, the Keta District Assembly Hall.

It said the most recent was the visit of His Excellency the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama to the area, where again the DCE "personally prevented them from attending the said function, even when they were dutifully invited".

It contended that Mr Vorkeh vehemently prohibited the traditional leaders from presenting gifts to the dignitaries at the function against customs and tradition.

"We would like Mr. President to act fast on this humble petition by removing the DCE before your official visit to the area to commission the Sea Defence project", it stated.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa pledged to forward their petition to the appropriate quarters for action but urged the Chiefs to exercise restraint regardless of the enormity of the offence, for the corporate interest of peace and harmony to prevail in the area.

He said the executive arm of government entreated its functionaries to "keep off" land and chieftaincy disputes and warned that government would not take it kindly on any person or group of people meddling in such disputes.

Anlo chiefs commend government for completing Keta Sea Defence Project

Ho, April 21, GNA - Eleven divisional chiefs of the Anlo Traditional Council on Tuesday expressed their "unqualified and heartfelt" appreciation to government for the successful completion of the Keta Sea Defence project, initiated by its predecessor, on schedule.

They also expressed their gratitude to government for finalising measures to construct additional 315 resettlement houses for displaced communities of Kedzi, Vodza and Adzido, which were inundated persistently by high tidal waves as a result of constructional work on the 84-million-dollar Sea Defence project.

Speaking through, Togbi Sri III, Regent and Acting President of the Anlo Traditional Council, who also led the delegation of the chiefs to pay a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa said, "We are indeed grateful to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by His Excellency, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor towards the project".

He however, appealed to the Regional Minister to "use his good offices to canvass for the speedy implementation of the salt, shrimp, fish-farming industries and the proposed ports and harbours project at Keta".

Togbi Sri re-assured government that the Chiefs and Elders of Anlo are solidly behind it and would do everything within their power to lend their support to President Kufuor's administration to stimulate the socio-economic development of the Anlo Traditional Area and Ghana as a whole.

He said the political history of Anlo could not be wished away, and pledged to shore up their unflinching support to government to enable it to complete the development agenda it had set for itself.

Togbi Addo VIII, Fiaga of Klikor remarked that the entire Anlo State expressed their resentment that government upon resumption of power might discontinue work on the Sea Defence project but it had proved that it was a government committed to the development of all areas irrespective of party inclination. He urged government to assist the Chiefs and elders to stem the rampant sale of parts of the lagoon by some indigenes saying the "practice was a recipe for disputes and conflicts, which needed to be nipped in the bud". Togbi Addo appealed to government to reconsider the roles being played by chiefs in the governance process and empower them financially to sustain the dignity and respect they commanded.

He entreated the media to be circumspect in their reportage and bring some majesty to bear on the offices of both the former and present presidents. Mr Owusu-Yeboa said it was government's policy to complete all vital projects initiated by their predecessor and also to distribute the national resources equitably, irrespective of tribe, race, or political affiliation.

He said the recent sod-cutting ceremony in the area by the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama further demonstrated government's sensitivity to the mitigation of the plight of the people. Mr Owusu-Yeboa said government was determined to strengthen the partnership between it and traditional authorities to facilitate its political and development aspirations to bring prosperity to the doorsteps of all.

On investment, he urged Chiefs to begin to identify investment and other economic opportunities of their area while appealing to the Keta District Assembly to identify land boundaries and banks for investments. "Investors cannot wait while you litigate in the Court over the land, they will relocate", he said.