Chiefs, Clergy summit held inHo...March 10

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

The Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) has called for more ingenuous approach for the transformation of technologies left behind by forebears in order to add value and refine the enormous natural resources endowed in the nation.
He said the nation had wasted much time in the past 50 years of nationhood adding that it was time for a change and that the scriptures should be able to provide the leadership for the change from mental enslavement.
Major Quashigah said this when he addressed the second Chiefs and Clergy Summit organized by a Christian non-governmental organization, Operation Rescue Africa Incorporated at Ho last Wednesday.
He said the summit was a sign of a wind of change that was expected to blow adding that the clergy should be busy searching for knowledge in the Bible while chiefs should mobilize their people in utilizing the knowledge, with politicians occupying themselves with the provision of real and practical development for the people.
He urged citizens to be inquisitive enough to facilitate the abolishing of outmoded customs that was in conflict with the development aspirations of society.
In a resolution to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture read by the queen of Tefle traditional area, Mama Adokuwa Asigble IV, the chiefs and elders of the Volta Region appealed to the government to expedite action on the restoration of 103 paramountcies and their inclusion as permanent members of the regional house of chiefs.
The resolution called for the introduction of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and training programme for chiefs to equip them with the necessary expertise to handle cases.
It also called for the reintroduction of native court system in the judicial system and that the adjudication of cases by chiefs should be incorporated into the judicial system to enable the right to appeal to the higher courts.
The resolution further advocated for the improvement of cordial relations between chiefs and politicians as well as between chiefs and the clergy and also called for the return of lands acquired by the government that had not been utilized yet.
In a response the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi said the forum should serve as a unifying force for the mutual recognition of all stakeholders in the development of the nation.
He said the resolution will be accorded the required attention be it at the regional or national levels, or where it may deem fit.
Mr Dzamesi advised the people to assess all candidates that will contest the next general election in order to make right choices for their own interest.
In a welcoming address, the president of the NGO, Dr Gilbert Okechy said the aim of the summit was to bring chiefs and the clergy together with opinion leaders to prayerfully brainstorm on issues that will enhance the progress and development of the region and to enlighten the people on some of the traditional practices which may not be understood by them and find a way to review or do away with those that do not bring any development to communities.