Regional News of Wednesday, 30 March 2005

Source: GNA

NGOs donate computers to House of Chiefs

Wenchi, (B/A) March 30, GNA - Two Non-Governmental Organisations (GNOS), the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (CIKOD) based in Accra and the Centre for Cosmos Vision and Indigenous Knowledge (CEAK) also based in Bolgatanga in Upper East Region have jointly donated a Computer System and its accessories worth about 14 million cedis to the Wenchi and Tain District House of Chiefs and Queens Secretariat.

The Organisations are concerned with conducting research into the indigenous knowledge of the traditional areas documenting them and ensuring their promotion for posterity to develop interest in them and to maintain the knowledge as their cultural heritage.

Addressing the members of the Wenchi and Tain District House of Chiefs and Queens at a meeting to launch the Secretariat on Saturday, the Executive Director of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Mr. Bern-Guri commended the traditional rulers of the two districts for establishing a House to share ideas towards the development of their communities.

Such Association is the first of its kind in the country as all chiefs and Queens have come together without showing any discrimination and with the objective of initiating development programmes for their people to improve upon their lifestyles.

Mr. Guri therefore stressed the need for them to maintain their solidarity and mobilize their community members to improve upon their socio-economic activities and to promote the development of the two districts.

Dr. David Millar also the Director of the Centre for Cosmos Vision and Indigenous Knowledge praised the people for their foresight in planning to explore the potential tourist centres in the area towards the promotion of Eco-Tourism System in the two districts.

Dr. Millar who is also a Lecturer at the University of Development Studies (UDS) Tamale, was grateful to the University authorities for offering the needed support that enabled him to conduct the necessary research into the indigenous knowledge of the traditional customs of the people of Wenchi and Tain.

He paid special tribute to the late Omanhene of the area, Osagyefo Ampem Abrefa More Bediatuo for his leadership in educating the research team about their cultural practices thereby making their project successful.

In a welcoming address, the Tufohene of Wenchi Traditional Area, Nana Addo Kumanin Kese pleaded with the two NGOs to arrange some financial support for the farmers in the area to enable them to improve upon their economic activities and to enhance their lifestyles.

Nana Atoaa Samangyeduaa 111, Queen mother of Wenchi Traditional Area who received the items on behalf of the House was grateful to the donors for their kind and generous gesture, adding that the Computer System would enable them to document the important events of the area for the benefit of posterity.