Ve-Golokwati, Aug. 6, GNA - A group of chiefs, mainly from the Hohoe Municipal Area, on Friday spoke against Togbe Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area, for recently criticizing government over the sluggish development of the Volta Region.

The chiefs at a press conference at Ve-Golokwati, in the Hohoe Municipal Area, said Togbe Gabusu was only one of the 20 Paramount chiefs i= n the Hohoe Traditional Area and, th erefore, his views did not reflect those of chiefs of the area.

Togbe Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief of the Alavanyo Traditional Area, who read a statement flanked by eight other chiefs said: 93We want t= o state categorically that those statements do not represent the generality o= f our views as paramount chiefs in the Hohoe Municipality." The chiefs are Togbe Delume V, of Ve, Togbe Agboka VI of Leklebi, Togbe Homatekpor of Gbledi and Nana Otiti Aku III of Santrokofi, Togbe Adza Adiaku V of Logba Alakpeti.

The rest are Togbe Adom X of Agate, Togbe Adanu Sakrafo of Goviefe and Togbe Asemtsra of Have.

Togbe Atakora said: 93Our position as paramount chiefs in the Hohoe Municipality is that of respect for the high office of the President of the Republic of Ghana.

"If we have any grievances bothering on the manifesto pledges of the National Democratic Congress government such grievances, if there are any, should be directed to the President through direct contact. Or should be routed to the President through the Office of the Regional Minister, who is the direct representative of the President in the region". He mentioned 17 development projects at the total cost of 9 million Ghana Cedis that were completed or on-going in the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu's domain alone. Togbega Atakora said: 93it was not fair for anybody irrespective of t= he massive infrastructural development going on across the length and breadth of the Volta Region=85..to hide behind the issue of the Eastern Corridor an= d the Volta University Project to unnecessarily chastise the performing Atta Mills government",. adding that the two projects would 93mature in the shortest possible time= ". Togbega Atakora said the reported walkout by chiefs at the Hohoe Municipal Assembly session was erroneous since only Togbega Gabusu and his sub-chiefs stormed out over an issue of representation.