Akwamu Fie, Aug 7, GNA - Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, has called on all factions in the Akwamu chieftaincy dispute to review their hard stands and allow peace to prevail in the area. He said 17 years without a paramount chief did not augur well for Akwamu which had an enviable record in the history of Ghana and happened to be one of the most respected paramouncies in the region. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, who was accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Rev Asare Akoto, and the District Chief Executive, Mr Johnson Ahiakpor, said until that issue was solved it would be difficult for the area to be developed.

He said when he was the Deputy Minister to the late Mrs Patience Addow, that dispute persisted and it was sad that 10 years down the lane he had come to meet that same challenge and questioned the chiefs the kind of history they would tell their children about the traditional area during their time. The Regional Minster said government had promised a better Ghana for all but that could not be achieved without the support of all stakeholders especially the traditional authorities therefore "whatever it takes for the Akwamu chieftaincy dispute to be settled shall be pursued."

He mentioned Ajena, Mpakadan and other parts of Asuogyaman which had sacrificed their land and livelihoods for the establishment of the Volta River Authority, yet because of litigation and other chieftaincy disputes they were not gaining the best for their sacrifices.

Mr Ahiakpor appealed to the traditional council to give him support to be able to complete the job entrusted into his hands by the government. He said contrary to perceptions that he was a stranger, he schooled and lived most of his adult life in Akwamu and Accra under the tutelage of a queen mother in Akwamu and pledged to respect the views of the people as far as unity and development was concerned. Nana Bekae III, the Acting President of the Akwamu Traditional Area, said the council was prepared for any fair and objective handling of the Akwamu dispute.

He said they were counting on the ingenuity of the regional minister and his in-depth knowledge of the dispute to take actions that would ensure that the matter was laid to rest. Nana Bekae also reminded the government that Ghanaians voted them into power because of their message of a better Ghana for all because they were suffering and therefore urged the government to focus on that. He called for the return of all Akwamu lands acquired long ago by government but had not been used as promised by the ruling party during their campaign towards the 2008 elections