Central
Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong has debunked reports that Chiefs in
Elmina boycotted the sod cutting ceremony, over the weekend, by
President John Mahama to construct a harbor in their locality.
The
Chiefs were said to have snubbed the President on grounds that they
were not consulted by the government before the sod cutting.
Akwamuhene
of the Edina Traditional area, Nana Kojo Aduakwa the V, at a press
conference explained that the Chiefs "were not privy to any discussion
and therefore we are not going to participate in the sod cutting
ceremony."
The Chiefs, he stated, "have issues to settle with the
KEEA and the people that gave the said land which the sod cutting will
take place to them…All this while the council has not been consulted in
the deliberation and determination of the land on which the sod cutting
will take place.”
But speaking in an interview with Radio Gold,
the Regional Minister expressed surprise over the reports, claiming that
“almost all the Chiefs around the coastal areas” attended the function,
which according to him, was successful.
When asked whether the
Chiefs ignored the ceremony, Hon. Samuel Sarpong further narrated that
though several Chiefs along the coast that attended the sod cutting
ceremony, the paramount Chief in Elmina stayed out because “he didn’t
get the information on time…He had the invitation but it was a little
bit late for him…”
Another reason he expounded as a causal factor
to the attitude of the Elmina Chief towards the sod cutting was that
the Chief had laid claims to the parcel of land on which the sod cutting
was performed.
He elucidated the “excuse that was given by the
Chief was the land in particular was given to the former President J.A
Kufour for that same project”, and as a result, he should have been
officially consulted before the sod cutting by President John Mahama.
He
however added that he will hold talks with the Chief to “ask him what
actually his problem is and then find an amicable settlement.” |
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