The Oti Regional Minister, Hon. John Kwadwo Gyapong, has met with members of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs (RHC) at the ORCCβs conference room in Dambai.
The Regional Minister thanked the membership of the House for holding forte for peace in the area and championing development in the area.Read More
He however called on the gazetted members of the house to expedite actions in resolving the remaining chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He explained that in time past, the people of Oti region had been fighting for a region of its own but had achieved their ambition and there is the need for them to come together to build the region together for development.
Hon. Gyapong reiterated the commitment of government to complete the regional house of chief offices project across the newly calved out regions across the country.
βChieftaincy disputes are real, we as politicians can not interfere in chieftaincy matters but to support the chiefs in peace building,β he said.
Through Big Push programme, the Minister mentioned that government made a budgetary allocation for the construction of bridge over Oti river in Dambai and works will soon commence to open up the region for easy access for transportation and bring development in the region.
He said the contractors are been asked to return to site for the construction of Kpassa β Nkwanta eastern corridor roads and work will soon commence.
Hon. Gyapong informed the chiefs that government is committed in establishing irrigation project in the region and works is expected to commence by May this year.
He said government will also build a water treatment plant project in Dambai to ensure portable drinking water is available for the all in the region.
For his part, the Oti Regional House of Chiefs President, Nana Soglo Alloh IV informed the minister that there are about 26 members of the Regional House of Chiefs which includes 26 traditional areas but the active members of the house are 14 with the rest facing chieftaincy litigation and yet to be gazetted.
He pleaded with minister to ensure the ORCC allocate budget for house of chiefs to run its activities adding that their office had been given two vehicles including a land cruiser and a pickup but one of vehicles had accident and need to be replaced.
The Chiefs congratulated the minister for his nomination and charged government to expedite development in peaceful areas and leave conflict prone areas.
For Kadjebi Akan, the president of the house said has about eight (8) paramount chiefs and are members of the house but five (5) chiefs are not active members because of the chieftaincy disputes.
The chiefs bemoaned the lack of consultation of traditional leaders on the appointment of government appointee assembly members in each district.
The President of the house told the Minister that paramount chiefs from traditional areas including Akpafo, Dapaa, Pampawie, Papase, Nchumuru, Asato, Kadjebi, Buem Bowiri, Worawora and Pia-Katanga were not represented in the house following disputes in the areas.
Present at the engagement meeting includes the President of the Oti RHC Nana Soglo Alloh IV; Vice president, Nana Obonbo Sewurah Lupuwura II; Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Okoforobour Baffour Kwame Asante II, Okogyeaman Kwasi Asiedu Korum II, Dasebre Oduro-Guranim I, Nana Odam Gyamfi III, and Nana Tidibo Kowura Odamba II.
