HOHOE : Establish district houses of chiefs

A former Member of Parliament for Hohoe South, Mr Kosi Kedem, has advocated for a proper repositioning and integration of the powers of the traditional authority into the local government system for effective administration and deepening of grassroots democracy and decentralization.
   
He called for the establishment of District Houses of Chiefs to serve as a potential nursery for decentralization, social cohesion and development.
 
He described its non-existence as a serious aberration and a missing link in the local government administration.
   
Mr Kedem was speaking at a one-day seminar for some chiefs and queens in the Hohoe District as part the Golden Jubilee celebration on the theme, " The Traditional Leader in Ghana’s Modern Development-Drawing Inspiration form the Past".
 
The seminar was organized by Togbe Dzidoah I and Mama Dzidoasi I, sub-Chiefs of Gbi-Abansi, Centre for Community Development and Traditional Excellence, a Hohoe-based NGO and supported by the Togo Embassy and the Volta Foundation, a development oriented non-profit making organization.
   
Mr Kedem said since many more chiefs and queens resided in the districts, it was improper to establish only Regional and National Houses of Chiefs, which could best be described as a building without a foundation.
   
By and large, the Former MP said, the traditional authority remained indispensable and a major factor of social stability, agents of hope and development, power brokers but were considerably restricted constitutionally and legally in the local government system.
   
Mr Kedem said chieftaincy was fast becoming a factor for conflict and destabilization with many becoming collaborators and quislings to political authorities to the detriment of the welfare of their subjects.
   
He called for revival and adjustment of the institution to face the challenges and tenets of modern Constitutional governance, if they were to be entrusted with greater political roles and said "good governance has no place for intolerance and tribal bigotry".
   
Mr Albert Agra, a retired Educationists and former Presiding Member of the Hohoe Assembly, suggested that chiefs should delegate powers by establishing working committees in planning, development, finance.
 
He appealed to chiefs to lobby the district assemblies and other NGOs for self-help development projects.
   
Mr Jean-Pierre Gbikpi-Benissan, Togo’s Ambassador, said despite the artificial division brought by colonialism, the two countries still shared the same geographical and historical ties, which needed to be harnessed for accelerated development.
   
He called on Chiefs and Queens to rise up with one accord and voice to fight poverty, unemployment, hunger and indiscipline and not forget traditions and customs as the rallying point for unity and peace.
   
Mr John Peter Amewu, Hohoe District Chief Executive,  appealed to chiefs and queens to be at the forefront of transforming the chieftaincy institution to champion the political, economic and social development at both national and local levels.
   
He urged them to remain assertive, reprimand wrongdoing and not be afraid of the truth.
   
Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area and President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, appealed the government to speed up the process to get parliament to pass legislation that would raise certain areas into paramountcies.

Queen mother seeks peace in Hohoe

The queen mother of Gbi-Abanse, Mama Dzidoasi has appealed to both the Gbi Traditional authorities and the Zongo community to assist in facilitating the peace building process initiated by the Volta Regional minister Hon. Ford Kamel to bring lasting peace to the Hohoe Municipality.

According to her, the recent disturbances that erupted between some youth of the zongo community and indigenes of the Gbi-traditional area can only be address by the players involved.

She said efforts made by the Volta Regional Minister by bringing in influential persons including the Vice President John Mahama, the National Chief Imam and other personalities can achieve results only if the people involved appreciate the need for peace.

She observed that the crises have seriously affected commercial activities in the area.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News’ Agbeko Ben Coffie, Mama Dzidoasi revealed the conflict has affected women and children, as most women can no longer engage in their petty trade business.

She indicated that women are scared and are becoming suspicious of themselves because of fear of being attacked, harassed or being beaten in the market.

“Honestly women are suffering as a result of this crisis. We know that it is the women that run the home by taking care of the children. But as we speak most women are at home and the children have become burden on them so how do you expect them to survive?” she quizzed, adding, “I understand my colleague women from the zongo community are unable to also visit the market,” she lamented.

Mama hinted that most of these women trade in perishable goods with some of them running their businesses with loans accessed from the banks. Therefore, if this conflict does not stop as early as possible most women who engage in petty trading as well as their children will become more vulnerable and may become a burden onto the society.

The queen mother also expressed concerns about the initial approach by the security towards the people particularly the police as she described their conduct as a threat rather than to ensure peace.

She was however quick to add that she was delighted that the situation is normalized.

She also advised the people of Gbi and the Zongo community to respect the curfew, which has been imposed by the regional Security Council and appealed to them to be mindful of their utterances that may generate unnecessary tension in the area.

Mama Dzidoasi expressed gratitude to the chiefs of the Gbi traditional area and Zongo leadership for the mature manner they have so far demonstrated in restraining the youth in engaging in acts that may compromised the peace process that is currently on going.

“I am impressed with the process of building peace so far. Most of the chiefs left their work from various parts of the country and have come to Hohoe to assist in bringing Hohoe to its normal state” adding, that the people of Gbi have so far lost two innocent lives because of the conflict.

She urged the people to embrace peace and be decorum in discussing issues of religion, tribe saying that when not well handled it may incur the displeasure of the parties involved.

Tigo Supports Dzidoasi Community Development Project

Tigo Ghana has made a presentation of assorted souvenirs to support the Dzidoasi Community Development Project at a short ceremony held on Friday, November 24, 2012.

The souvenirs, comprising books, pens, and T-shirts were received by Mama Dzioasi I, sub-divisional queenmother of Gbi Adansi-Hohoe on behalf of the Dzidoasi Community Development Project, a non-profit body devoted to education, health, women and community development.

The presentation is expected to propel the community's flagship project, of an essay competition between Junior High Schools in the municipality, including St.Francis Demonstration, E.P JHS, St.Theresa's JHS, St.Augustine's Boys School and Experiment JHS.

Presenting the package, the Brand Communications Manager, Linda Narh said: - "Tigo is indeed privileged to support such a laudable project since as a business, we place premium on child education"

She also expressed Tigo's appreciation for opportunity for the company to demonstrate its brand promise of putting smiles on the faces of Ghanaians". 

She added that, Tigo is devoted to supporting sustainable social interventions that revolve around the company's corporate social responsibility pillars of education, health and environment.

Mama Dzidoasi I in her response also expressed her appreciation for Tigo's support to the community.

This latest presentation buttresses the premier telecommunications giant's enduring support towards educational improvement in the country. Notable initiatives along this line include Tigo's 'The Challenge', a popular television show aimed at unearthing and rewarding academic excellence.