Aflao, Oct. 9, GNA - Togbe Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, has appealed to his colleague chiefs to build a common sense of belonging among Ghanaians as citizens of one nation. He said any sense of belonging along ethnic lines should be relegated to the background and replaced with a national belonging to ensure the peace of the nation.

Togbe Fiti, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after a visit to Kumasi as the guest of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said chiefs needed to build blocks of friendship for their people to emulate them.

He said an example of what he envisaged was reflected in the brotherly reception accorded him by Otumfuo Osei Tutu in Kumasi when he joined him and other chiefs to mark the Akwasidae, followed by the final funeral rites of the Asantehene's brother.

Togbe Fiti said the time when chiefs were antagonistic and mistrusted one another, swaying their subjects along with them, resulting in long standing tribal and ethnic squabbles, were over.

He said the chieftaincy institution had become a catalyst for development and promotion of the national interest. "Let us end those inter-ethnic mistrust as there are no more wars being waged to gain supremacy over one another", he said. The chieftaincy institution, Togbe Fiti said, wielded respect and influence that it must apply to complement the new national orientation programme being undertaken by the political leadership. Togbe Fiti expressed appreciation to the Ewe community in Kumasi for their support during his visit and urged them to be united and strengthen the bond of friendship between them and the Ashantis and other people. 09 Oct. 07