Let’s unite for development — Nene Animle VI
The Paramount Chief of the Osudoku Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region, Nene Aadegbor Ngmongmowuyaa Kwesi Animle VI, has called for unity among traditional rulers in the area to promote development.
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He indicated that there could not be any meaningful development in the midst of chieftaincy disputes and conflicts in a community and, therefore, admonished both divisional and sub-chiefs in the area to resolve their differences to ensure accelerated development.
According to Nene Animle, the Osudoku Traditional Area had suffered some setbacks following the protracted conflicts that had engulfed the area over the years and that it was time to forge ahead in unity.
Durbar
The chief was speaking at this year’s Osudoku Dzehayem annual festival at Osuwem in the Greater Accra Region.
The durbar, according to tradition, is held annually to round off a stool purification ceremony by the chief.
It was attended by divisional chiefs, officials from the Shai- Osudoku District Assembly and citizens of the Osudoku state.
According to Nene Animle, this year’s durbar was on a low profile because of the performance of some customary rites in honour of the late paramount chief for the area, Nene Klagbordjor Animle V, which took place in February this year.
‘’We deemed it too early to go merry-making as we are still recounting the loss of my predecessor,’’ the chief stated.
Land disputes
Nene Animle further indicated that as part of the reconciliation process, he was going to contact all parties whose land disputes were pending in court to withdraw them for amicable settlement through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
He advised chiefs and other landowners in the area to demarcate their land boundaries as part of measures to avoid any further litigation.
‘’I also wish to state emphatically that all divisions, clans or families who have allocated, or leased out lands to companies or individuals should come and register such transactions with the traditional council.
“Any new company, investor or individual who intends to undertake any venture in this area should route it through the traditional council”, the chief said.
He also entreated various splinter youth associations in the area to come under one umbrella body, ‘’Osudoku Youth Development Association (OYODA),” for accelerated development.
Gratitude
The chief expressed gratitude to the Friedriech Ebert Foundation, a German non-governmental organisation, for mediating to reconcile the feuding chiefs in a peace-building exercise at Sogakope in the Volta Region in 2014.
He also expressed appreciation to both the national and the Greater Accra House of Chiefs and other stakeholders for the various roles they played in the peace-building processes.
As part of the efforts to ensure a lasting peace in the area, a reconciliation durbar was held at Osuwem in August last year.
Partners
The District Chief Executive for Shai-Osudoku, Mr Emmanuel Anyemi Odoi Lartey, said the assembly was in consultation with some development partners to establish a rice processing plant at Osudoku to boost rice farming in the area.
He said plans were also advanced to establish a police station in Osudoku to check the security situation in the area.
The divisional chiefs in the area, led by the Acting President of the Osudoku Traditional Council, Nene Tetteh Otibo IV, swore the oath of allegiance to the new paramount chief.