Tumu, Nov.12,GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday said government was worried about the rising chieftaincy disputes in the Upper West Region which was retarding progress and development of the area. He said chieftaincy disputes in Wa, Nadowli, Buissie and Pulima paramountcies have generated into protracted litigation and needed to be resolved as quickly as possible to enhance development. Vice President Mahama raised this concern at the outdooring of Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI, Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area at Tumu on Thursday.

He said even though the people had not allowed those disputes to degenerate into violent situations, there was the need to appreciate the effects that they have on development. Apart from wasting resources on litigations, chieftaincy and other disputes have the potential of dividing the people and causing insecurity as well as scaring away investors.

Vice President Mahama appealed to all those involved in fomenting chieftaincy disputes to come together and resolve them to promote sustainable peace to enable the people to pursue their development agenda to improve their living standards.

He urged kingmakers to use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve disputes to help keep the people united, rather than resorting to the law courts for adjudication which had brought a lot of bitterness to the people especially, losers.

"Your ability to do this will help you preserve the chieftaincy institution as a symbol of culture and unity and a mouthpiece for development", he advised.

Vice President Mahama commended the kingmakers of Tumu for honouring President John Atta Mills' appeal to them to ensure that a peaceful and smooth transition to the skin took place.

"The President and the government are very grateful to the kingmakers, chiefs and people of this area for the smooth transition devoid of acrimony, hatred and violence, as experienced in similar exercises in some parts of the country", he said.

Vice President Mahama urged the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to emulate the useful lessons of Tumu kingmakers and apply them in resolving the outstanding chieftaincy disputes in the region. He said the Outdooring of Kuoro Kanton should offer the people the opportunity to unity and come out with new ideas to promote the socio-economic development of the area.

"The ascension of Kuoro Kanton should be a blessing and I expect him to lead the people to greater prosperity and progress. I hope Kuoro Kanton will keep the people united and provide them with the needed leadership that will make them to contribute their quota towards the development of the area", Vice President Mahama said.