Sarpeiman (G/A), Aug. 9, GNA - Nii Ebenezer Armah Tackie, Municipal Chief Executive of Ga West, said the development of communities was a shared responsibility of the central government, assemblies, citizenry and most importantly the traditional leaders.

"This is because communities can best be mobilised quickly and productively to address local problems, elaborate action plans and come up with solutions to strengthen community organisations through effective functioning of our traditional leaders," he said.

Nii Armah Tackie, who made the call during the celebration of the Homowo Festival of the chiefs and people of Sarpeiman in the Greater Accra Region, urged the people to play an active and responsible role to promote unity and ensure social stability and development of their areas. He expressed concern about land and chieftaincy disputes that confronted the communities in their quest to develop, and said the situatio= n was unacceptable 93because no development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour and violence." Nii Tackie called on the chiefs and queen mothers to collaborate effectively to resolve those issues with the needed urgency. He advised the youth to be disciplined and hard-working and take advantage of opportunities which government, their parents and guardians were placing at their disposal to prepare them to face the challenges of th= e future.

Nii Tackie called on chiefs and opinion leaders to play an active role in ensuring that children of school going age went to school and remained there until they completed their education.

He advised them not to engage in criminal activities that would ruin their lives but must rather be disciplined to become productive and responsible citizens.

Nii Armah Tackie said the Ga West Municipal Assembly had allocated a greater portion of its limited resources to rid the area of filth, adding that the Assembly would review its bye-laws on sanitation to be abreast wit= h modern sanitation trends for a clean environment. He commended the chiefs and elders of Sarpeiman for their leadership qualities which had brought about peace in the community and a peaceful Homowo Festival. He urged other traditional rulers to emulate that example to improve the living conditions of their people.