Apam, June 5, GNA - A traditional ruler has urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to regard chiefs as partners in development and cooperate with them to move the communities forward. Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea II, Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area who made the call said the decision of the framers of the 1992 constitution to ban chiefs from partisan politics did not mean that they must be sidelined in the administration of their localities. "It does not mean that we must not be involved in the activities of the assemblies," the Omanhene stated when some executives of the National Democratic Congress paid a courtesy call on him at Apam to introduce Mr. Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive for Gomoa West to him.

"We must see each other as working towards a common goal," Obrifo Ahor Ankobea stressed.

He advised the DCE, who is popularly called "Copper" a former Chief Accountant for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against going into office with a pre-conceived motive, especially against political opponents. Good governance involves treating the people without discrimination, he asserted and advised him never to adopt divide and rule tactics in his administration, since it did not promote unity. He urged the DCE to be wary about people who defame others to him, since they would also defame him to others. Obrifo Ahor Ankobea appealed to members of Gomoa East Assembly to bury their differences and cooperate to make the new district progress. Mr. Aidoo-Mensah thanked the Omanhene for the advice and assured him of his cooperation in the discharge of his duties. He pledged to liaise with the chiefs in taking decision on all matters concerning their communities.