Government was on Friday informed of the death of Mama Asieku Akpene III, Queenmother of the Battor Traditional Area in the Volta Region at the Castle, Osu.

Mama Asieku, 85, who died on October 12, this year, would be buried on January 18, next year. She reigned for 47 years. Mr Vincent Assiseh, former Press Secretary of the NDC and spokesman for the 12-member delegation who was at the Castle, said the Queenmother, distinguished herself and left behind many landmarks in the area.

He said she fought gallantly during the war between the people of Battor and the Osudoku in the 1950's. Mr Assiseh said Mama Asieku was instrumental in the establishment of the Battor Catholic Hospital, which had improved healthcare delivery in the area.

She also assisted in the construction of the Sege-Aveyime-Battor road and the abolition of Trokosi by persuading the chief priests to accept animals instead of human beings. Mr Assiseh pledged the support of the people to the government and appealed for the creation of a separate district for Battor.

President John Agyekum Kufuor said the people of Battor are well known in Ghana as distinguished fishermen. He said history is written with personalities who distinguished themselves in the socio-economic development of their areas and the late Mama Asieku was one of such personalities. President Kufuor said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would consider the appeal of the people for a separate district for Battor after fulfilling all the conditions.

Other members of the delegation were Mr Ken Dzirasah, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for South Tongu, Mr Joe Gidisu, and MP for North Tongu and Mama Addokuwa Asigble IV, queenmother of Tefle Traditional Area and President of the Volta Regional Queenmothers Association.