Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, the Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area and Lower Town Axim has appealed to the government to allow justice and fairness to prevail in chieftaincy matters especially with boundary disputes between his jurisdiction and that of Lower Axim Traditional Area presided over by Awulae Attibrukusu III.
He reminded the government that the border dispute which remained unresolved between the two paramountcies, must be treated as a national security concern.
Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, who is also a Board Member of the Ghana National Gas Company, gave the reminder at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Nsein Traditional Area and Lower Town Axim to climax their annual Kundum festival.
The theme for this year’s celebration was ” Preparing the Youth for Effective Future Leadership Through Entrepreneurship: A Collective Responsibility”.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were Mr Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister, Madam Judith Adjoba Blay, CEO of the Ghana National Gas Company, Nana Kobena Nketiah IV, Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kwesi Agyemang IX, Paramount Chief of the Lower Dixcove Traditional Area and Vice-President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Kwaw Fraiku IV, Paramount Chief of the Shama Traditional Area, Mr Frank Buah, CEO of Maaha Beach Resort and Mr Herbert Kuah-Dickson, MCE for Nzema-East.
Nana Kobena Nketiah IV, Paramount Chief of the Essikado Tradition area who chaired the celebrations, assured Awulae Agyefi Kwame II that the Western Regional House of Chiefs would delve into the chieftaincy and boundary disputes between Nsein and Lower Axim Traditional Areas for an amicable settlement.
He identified chieftaincy disputes and disunity as the biggest problems confronting the nation.
Nana Kobena Nketiah IV reminded traditional rulers that before President John Dramani Mahama’s moves on reparatory justice could benefit the nation, “the chieftaincy institution must be ready to repair what was lost before colonialism”.
He recalled that ” it was as a result of backbiting, tribalism and disunity which allowed the colonial master to infiltrate into the chieftaincy institution to rule us”.
He asked traditional rulers and society to uphold value systems such as justice, freedom, fairness in the chieftaincy institution.
He stressed the need to prepare the youth to recognize their cultural values.
Nana Kobena Nketiah IV, who is also a distinguished historian, said it was not for nothing that Dr Kwame Nkrumah espoused continental in his famous speech.
Mr Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister who extended festive greetings from President John Mahama, congratulated the House of Chiefs for their role in development of the Western Region.
He said the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would meet the Regional House of Chiefs to bring lasting peace to the area.
Mr Nelson said the Western Region was endowed with natural resources but was yet to experience meaningful development due to disunity and absence of peace.
He reminded the chiefs and people that the festival must serve as a platform for unity, reconciliation and recollection.
The Government, Mr Nelson said, would create an enabling environment for young people to transform their potential into productivity.
Madam Judith Adjoba Blay, CEO of Ghana Gas said the Company could only operate in an atmosphere of peace and called for amicably settlement of the chieftaincy disputes in the area.
She charged the Western Regional Minister to be committed to the peace in the area.
Mr Kofi Arko Nokoe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Evaloe-Adjomoro Gwira also committed himself to peace by working closely with the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) to resolve the boundary and other chieftaincy disputes to bring lasting peace to the area.
Mr Herbert Kuah-Dickson, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on behalf of MUSEC asked for forgiveness from Awulae Agyefi Kwame II for any lapses on their part as to why he could not be paraded in a palanquin for the 2026 Kundum Festival.
He assured the Omanhene and the Traditional Council that all disputes and outstanding issues would be resolved to pave way for the normal celebrations of the Kundum festival next year.
GNA
