Regional News of Monday, 26 March 2012

Source: GNA

Upper East House of Chiefs swears in two new chiefs

The Upper East Regional House of Chiefs has admitted two newly enskinned chiefs from Nabdam and Chiana into the House.

They are Nangodi Naab Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II, an agriculturist and Pe Aditundi Anidu Ayagitam III, a lawyer and financial consultant, from Chiana.

Mr Kwesi Kumah, the supervising High Court Judge who swore in the chiefs, appealed to them to work towards modernizing certain customary practices especially the dowry system.

He appealed to them to help fight the common enemy which is ignorance and poverty in the region.

Pe Charles Awampaga, the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, said, chiefs wielded power to bring changes to their areas and urged them to be up to the task.

He said environmental degradation, health and the abysmal performance of students in the BECE were some of the nagging issues they should lend their support to government to address.

“As part of the solution, I wish to urge you all to form partnership with the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders to participate in school management,” he said.

The Chief appealed to the new chiefs to help teachers posted to their communities with accommodation.

Regarding the biometric registration exercise, Pe Charles Awampaga called on chiefs to turnout in their numbers. ”I know we have come a long way in politics and I know we would use our thumbs to express our opinions and not our fists when the time comes” he said.

Mr Mark Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minister, appealed to the chiefs to work together as custodians of the land to help promote peace and harmony in their jurisdictions.

He said government could not solely handle the promotion of peace and stability unless as chiefs they helped by educating their people to appreciate the importance of peace and be united.

He thanked the chiefs for the continuous support they provided especially in solving some chieftaincy issues and expressed the hope that the cordiality would continue to bring peace and harmony to the region.**