Teacher Mante (E/R), April 12, GNA - The 10-year-chieftaincy dispute at Teacher Mante in the Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar District had ended with the installation of Mr E.O. Anim Mante, a Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Information, as the new chief of the town. Mr Anim Mante, 57, who took the stool name, Baffour Fianko Anim Mante II, succeeded his late father, Nana Baffour Gyebi Siaw Mante III, who died 10 years ago.

The settlement of the dispute, which raged between the people of Akropong-Akwapim and Larteh-Guan to pave the way for the installation, became possible through the joint mediation efforts by the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Michael Kofi Mensah and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano, Mr Godfred Okyere.

Baffour Anim Mante swore the oath of allegiance to the Queenmother, Nana Asiedua, the Amankrado and people at a ceremony on Sunday. In an address, he commended the DCE and the MP for their initiative towards finding an amicable solution to the long-standing dispute to pave the way for peace and development of the town. He said with the return of peace to the town, he would reactivate all development projects abandoned due to the dispute and called for the support of the people.

Baffour Anim Mante expressed concern about the falling standards of education and asked parents to assist the teachers to solve the problem. He also appealed to the District Assembly to rehabilitate the roads in the area and also connect the area to the National Electricity Grid, adding that the people had already purchased 52 poles towards the project.

The new chief further called on the Ministry of Health to rehabilitate the local health centre to enable the people to enjoy the National Health Insurance Scheme that would take off in the area soon. Mr Mensah said even though the Government would not interfere in chieftaincy disputes, it would ensure that peace prevailed among the people to promote development.

Mr Okyere said the town was among communities selected to enjoy electricity under the Self-Help Electricity Project (SHEP) Phase IV by the end of the year. 12 April 05