General News of Sunday, 26 October 2008

Source: GNA

Chief advocates setting up of Upper House

Aseseeso (ER), Oct. 26, GNA - Okatakyie Kusi Amoyaw, Chief of Aseseeso in the Eastern Region, at on Saturday advocated the establishment of an Upper House of Parliament, which should comprise chiefs and eminent citizens of the country. He said this would give traditional rulers the opportunity to participate in the governance of the country and cited Britain where a second camber of Parliament has been set up to among others maintain the culture and tradition of the that country.

Okatakyie Amoyaw, who was speaking at the Odwira festival at Aseseeso, to mark his 15 years of enstoolment as chief of the town, said the establishment of an Upper House would help strike a balance between the majority and minority groups and promote harmony within the organs of state.

He advised chiefs in the area to send their petitions and other concerns to the Akuapem Traditional Council. He appealed to traditional rulers in the country to assist in maintaining peace amongst the political parties to ensure peaceful elections on 7 December.

Okatakyie Amoyaw said the people supported him to undertake development projects, including the rehabilitation of a public toilet, the building of the Aseseeso clinic and nurses quarters with funding from the European Union and the District Assembly. He said he has contributed to the development of education and facilitated an exchange programme between the John O'Gount school of Hungerford U.K. and the junior high school at Aseseeso. Okatakyie Amoyaw said "Under this programme, there has been cultural exchanges and visits by teachers and students from Aseseeso to UK and vice versa".

He expressed worry about immoral activities among the youth, especially teenage girls, who were being lured into promiscuity and appealed to parents, chiefs, school authorities and Churches to collaborate efforts to solve the problem.