The Awomefia of the Anlo State, Togbui Sri III, has cautioned the government not to take the chiefs and people of the Anlo State for granted as far as the exploitation of the resources in the Keta lagoon is concerned.

According to him, although the minerals belong to the people of Ghana, it is vested in central government.

“However any exploitation of such mineral wealth without meaningful dialogue with the indigenes always results in conflicts, and we in Anlo would not like this to happen.”

To this end, it is not prudent for the government, through its agents and assigns, in this case the Minerals Commission, to demarcate the Keta lagoon for investors without the involvement and consideration of the chiefs and people of the area.

He said, “Information reaching us indicates that currently Minerals Commission is in the process of demarcating and allocating the Keta lagoon to potential investors without recourse to the Anlo Traditional Council.”

Togbui Sri warned that the neglect of the people in the process will not augur well for all stakeholders.

“I appeal to President Akufo-Addo to use his good offices to prevail on the Minerals Commission to do the proper thing if the information was true.”

His plea comes on the heels of the clashes between residents and a salt company in recent years over the control and ownership of portions of the lagoon.

Togbui Sri III gave the caution at Anloga in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region during the durbar of the chiefs and people of Anlo State to climax the 2017 Hogbetsotso Festival.

This year’s celebration was themed “Rebranding the Historic and Tourist Sites of Anlo State for Development.”

It brought together all the chiefs and people of the five municipalities and districts that make up the Anlo State.

The Hogbetsotso festival is celebrated annually by Anlos to commemorate the historic journey of their ancestors from Nortsie in the Republic of Togo to their present location.

He called on government to manage the oil resources in the supreme interest of the people in the Keta Basin and Ghana.

He also reminded government to expedite action on the proposed harbour at Keta and rehabilitation of the many deplorable roads in Keta and Anlo areas and also provide potable water.

He also lauded the Free SHS programme and said that the full implementation of other flagship programmes, like the One District, One Factory, and “Planting for Food and Jobs’ policies would improve the lives of Anlos in particular and Ghanaians in general.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, who represented the President at festival, reiterated the commitment of the NPP government to fulfilling all its promises to all Ghanaians.