Ho: Congress of Paramount Chiefs and Queens launch 10th anniversary celebration
Henrietta Afful
By: Seraphine Nyuiemedi
The Congress of Paramount Chiefs and Queens of Ho West District has launched its 10th anniversary with a call on government to deliver on its promise to extend the Kpeve water project to Dzolokpuita, the District Capital.
The Paramount Chief of Avatime Traditional area and President of the Congress, Osie Adza Tekpor who made the call said the extension of water project to Dzolokpuita will provide some relief to the surrounding communities especially children who walk long distances for portable water.
Paramount Chief of Avatime Traditional area and President of the Congress, Osie Adza Tekpor
The Congress, comprising, 16 paramountcy in the Ho West District was inaugurated 10 years ago to pursue development activities in unison.
President of the Congress, Osie Adza Tekpor said through the efforts of the Congress, part of the Bame-Dzolokpuita Road has been tarred and called on the government to expedite work on the remaining part.
Osie Adza Tekpor appealed for extension of the Kpeve water project to Dzolokpuita to befit it status as a district capital.
“We are always reminding the Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive about the promise they made 10 years ago that they will link the Kpeve water project to the district capital”.
“What we were told is that the water system is supposed to be for the district. It’s supposed to draw water from Kpeve to the district capital and we were told by government that efforts will be made to draw the water from Kpeve to this place”.
“I know the last time the president came and commissioned a small water project in Avatime Amedzofe and other small towns in it. But the district capital, which is Dzolokpuita doesn’t have it’s own water system which is not good. We believe that, that should be given to the district capital to befit a District capital and then the other communities that are adjacent in the 20 kilometre radios will also benefit from it”.
“So we still want to pursue the government and to remind him that the promise that they made 10 years ago that they were going to give us a district water project they should continue to do it”.
He bemoaned that chiefs in the District have not been given the needed respect at the local government administration.
He said they are partners in development and thus, must be involved in the development activities of the District.
The Paramount Chief used the occasion to send a strong signal to politicians that chiefs and queens are a force to reckon with. He added that Ho West District has come this far due to the tenacity and the strong will of cooperation among the chiefs and queens and urged politicians not to downplay their efforts and energy.
“We believe that the chiefs have not been given their right pride of place at the local government administration. We as chiefs are considered to be umpires in the development of our district. And when appointments are being made especially the appointments at the district assembly, we have never been consulted which is not good. The first time that we were consulted we suggested, but the second time around when the change was being made we were not consulted”.
“We don’t see this thing as funny at all because, we are chiefs and we are partners in development. Whatever development activity that comes into our community, is at the initiative of the chiefs and the community leaders. And we expect the politicians and the public servants to cooperate with us. The 10th anniversary that we are celebrating now we want to send a strong signal to the politicians that we are a force to reckon with”.
“Ho West has come this far just because of the tenacity and the strong will of cooperation among the chiefs, let us not downplay on these efforts and energy of the chiefs and queens. We are not very happy that the MP is not at this launch, we are not very happy that the Regional Minister is not here, the District Chief Executive with whom we work very closely with. We understand they’re engaged somewhere, but 16 paramount chiefs to call you to come and witness an event and you turn it down is unacceptable. We don’t think that this should be going on”.
Osie Adza Tekpor called on the citizens and other stakeholders to support the Congress during the anniversary to construct its secretariat.
