Regional News of Wednesday, 26 October 2005

Source: GNA

Concerned Citizen says Awadada should be in control of Anlo

Ho, Oct 26, GNA - Mr Besa Amenuvor, who called himself a concerned citizen of Anlo, on Wednesday urged the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to make a pronouncement on the state of affairs on the Anlo Awoamefia chieftaincy issue.

He said as the statutory body responsible for chieftaincy, its evaluation of the situation based on procedural and customary practices of the Anlo State as well as the law could result in the settlement of the impasse on who should be in authority in the absence of the Awoamefia.

Mr Amenuvor, who was addressing the media in Ho, said the almost daily appearance of stories about the Anlo State in the media was "creating negative feelings in the indigenes".

He said it was not right for the Regional House of Chiefs to stay aloof because nobody had brought the matter before it, only to watch the traditions of the Anlos violated through ignorance or seeming bravado. Mr Amenuvor appealed to the media to do a diligent inquiry into affairs in the Anlo State rather than coming out with pieces of emotional vituperations, sloppy and one-sided statements from factional leaders within the Anlo State.

He said lack of knowledge on chieftaincy issues had resulted in many people who should be defending the customs and traditions of their people distancing themselves from such issues.

Mr Amenuvor, who claimed he was speaking in his own right as a citizen of Anlo and not a supporter or sympathizer of any of the factions, said it was the Awadada of the Anlo State who should be seen to be in control of the Anlo State in the absence of the Awoamefia. ''Technically, a chief is no chief until he is listed in a gazette. I wonder why the Regional House of Chiefs can stay without comment while people who are not chiefs hold themselves as such.