The people of Iture, a village near Elmina in the KEEA Municipality, are beaming with smiles once again with the installation of a new chief after 70 years.

According to the kingmakers, they had difficulty finding a successor to the throne after the last chief died many years ago.

Iture, described as the gateway to Elmina, yesterday witnessed a short, but colourful ceremony during the coronation of Nana Iture Kweku V, amidst singing, drumming and dancing.

Known in private life as Mr. John Kenneth Eshun, the 57-year old chief is the Assistant Production Manager of the Ghana Publishing Corporation, under the Ministry of Information.

In his augural address, Nana Iture Kweku V said the occasion had been long overdue, and thanked the Ebusuapanyinfo of the village for acting as regents for all these while.

“My first vision as a chief for my community is to promote unity amongst all the people, since in unity, lies strength, development and progress,” he said.

Nana Iture Kweku V assured to collaborate with his council members to promote discipline, and ensure that the rule of law prevailed in the community.

He promised to promote education in the community by establishing a school block for the children in the area, since children from the village had to walk long distances to other communities to attend school.

Nana Iture Kweku V identified employment a major problem for the youth in the area, promising to blaze the trail of Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the flagbearer for the Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP), who had helped create some job opportunities in the Municipality.

He called on all the people of Iture, especially non-residents and those living abroad, to rally behind him to bring the needed development to the community.

Nana Iture Kweku V, earlier on swore the oath of allegiance to Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, the Paramount Chief of the Edina Traditional Council.

Rabbi Kohein (Nana Edugyei), the Chairperson for the Panafest Diaspora Coalition in Ghana, presented assorted drinks and an undisclosed amount of money to Nana Iture Kweku V, as part of their contribution towards the development of the community.