Koforidua, July 3, GNA - The Chief of Akyem Ayirebi, Nana Obrempon Agyekum, has appealed to the Eastern Regional Minister to intervene in the conflicts between District Chief Executives (DCEs) and their Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region.

Describing the conflicts as a cancer that was fast eating into the development of the districts, the chief said sometimes such conflicts affected the image of the traditional councils in such districts. He said chiefs, who are supposed to intervene for the sake of development, were sometimes branded as taking sides either with the MPs or the DCE's to the detriment of the people.

Obrempon Agyekum made the appeal on Sunday, when a reception was organized for senior citizens in the region to mark Ghana's 47th republic anniversary.

Other speakers, mostly retired public and civil servants, expressed concern over irregularities and delay in the payment of their pensions and appealed to the government to address the issue. The Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, assured the senior citizens that the government was committed to their cause and would address all anomalies in their salaries.

He expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship that exists between the chiefs and the DCE's in the region. Mr Barimah said the presence of many chiefs at the reception gave credence to the fact and commended the chiefs who had accompanied their DCE' to the function.

Five Senior citizens from each of the 17 districts who had served in various categories and retired heads of departments were given prizes.