President Akufo-Addo has stressed that he and his government has no interest in meddling in chieftaincy issues anywhere in the country.

Instead, he says his interest is to see to it that peace and development are maintained in every part of Ghana, no matter who is enstooled chief of any area.

He made these remarks when the chiefs and people of the Bawku Traditional Area, led by the paramount chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House yesterday.

Addressing the chiefs, the president indicated, “I’m very concerned about the peace of Bawku and the surrounding areas.”

“When I said that I have no interest in chieftaincy matters, I meant it; it was not an idle statement. I am not a chief and I am not a royal of Bawku, I don’t have any interest in meddling in Bawku chieftaincy matters; and that is what I meant by saying that my government has not come to meddle in chieftaincy matters.”

Advice

That notwithstanding, President Akufo-Addo said, “It is very important for all of us to understand that we derive no benefit from conflict and instability.”

According to him, “What we need to do is to make sure that the peace is maintained and developed.”

He advised that all sides in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute should exercise restraint and comport themselves for the current peace being witnessed in the area to continue.

President Akufo-Addo asserted, “There is a lot that we have to do together to develop the area and to develop Ghana; without peace we cannot do it.”

Commitment To Free SHS

The president dispelled the notion that the ‘Free Senior High School’ promised by him and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) during last year’s electioneering campaign – which implementation began in September this year – was meant to just win votes.

He declared, “It’s being done for the development of our country.”

He continued, “In today’s world junior high school is not enough; we have to make sure that at least everybody gets to secondary school and that’s why I am determined that the policy of ‘Free Senior High School’ will continue and continue and continue till all our children have the opportunity to go to school.”

This year alone, he said, 90,000 more students were admitted into senior high schools, compared to last year’s – all because of the introduction of the policy.

The president explained, “We want to make sure that everybody who is eligible can find their place in high school.”

Pledge

“There are difficulties with the programme; there are difficulties with logistics and infrastructure in the schools, classrooms, dormitories, science labs. We have taken the first step; the issues about infrastructure, school classrooms, logistics, we are going to deal with those.”

He therefore asked for the support of all Ghanaians to see to the successful implementation of the policy.

The Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka, commended President Akufo-Addo and his government for the various programmes they have started, including the implementation of the ‘Free SHS’ policy, ‘Planting for Food and Jobs,’ ‘One District, One Factory’ and the rest that are yet to be rolled out.

He prayed for long life and strength to enable the president to carry on with his good works, pledging his unflinching support for the government.

The chief later presented a white smock to President Akufo-Addo who expressed appreciation.