Krachiwura Appeals to GNAT Not to Withdraw Teachers

The Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna III has called on the Volta Regional leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to rescind its plans to withdraw teachers in three out of the five Krachi Districts for the next academic year when school reopens, as a result of alleged murder cases of teachers in those Districts.

Nana Mprah Besemuna stressed that death in whatever way that it occurs, is always painful and shared the sentiments of GNAT in its moment of grief, noting that chiefs in the traditional area would never condone any criminal activities, let alone killing of teachers who have dedicated their lives to rendering services to the people in the area.

He assured GNAT that chiefs in all the Krachi Districts are committed to supporting teachers in any way possible to promote their activities and appealed to the leadership of the Teachers Association to exercise restraint by allowing the police to conduct investigations into the killings to help reveal the motives behind what he described as unfortunate incident.

The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Fred Agyepong Asare, also assured GNAT that police investigations into the alleged killings of the teachers in three of the Krachi Districts was ongoing, and would definitely come up with the truth, even though autopsy revealed that the latest victim died as a result of drowning.

ACP Asare disclosed that police investigators were still operating in the Districts where the alleged killings took place and urged GNAT to talk to its members to return to the classroom when school resumes because the security of teachers would be fully guaranteed to enable them to go about their duties without fear.

In another development the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Henry Seidu Daana says it is part of government's policy to administer the chieftaincy institution in a manner that would promote rapid national development.

According to him, the chieftaincy institution plays crucial role in the development process and that his outfit would always support it.

Dr. Daana said government had taken notice of the difficulties facing the Volta Region House of Chiefs, in the rotation of some chiefs instead of them being permanent members and that L.I 2287 which was before Parliament would help in addressing such challenges, by ensuring that 103 chiefs joined the House as permanent members.

He assured traditional authorities that government was doing everything possible to enhance the chieftaincy institution, which he pointed out had a lot more to offer in the development efforts of the nation noting that the problems associated with traditional areas would gradually be dealt with to bring sanity into the chieftaincy institution.

Addressing the 3rd general meeting of the Volta Region House of Chiefs in Ho, Dr. Daana noted that the efforts being made by the government to add 103 more members to the House, called for additional responsibilities by the new members who would be included in the House.

Dr. Daana explained that government alone could not do everything by itself but the traditional councils that would be joining the Volta Region House of Chiefs would have to provide structures to be used as traditional council offices and when that was done, government would inspect such facilities as offices and when satisfied, would then provide them with staff.

The Minister, who was not happy with the number of chieftaincy disputes in the Volta Region, called on the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to find lasting solution to chieftaincy disputes in Anlo, Akpini and Peki traditional areas.

He said his doors were opened to all to offer advice to the Ministry to ensure its rapid growth that would help strengthen the chieftaincy institution in the region in particular and the country in general.

The President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede Asor XIV disclosed that the two Paramount chiefs of Nkonya and Alavanyo have committed themselves to maintaining peace in the area. This formed the basis for which they are still members of the House.

Togbe Afede continued that citizens from both sides have been restrained from engaging in any activity on the disputed land until lasting peace had returned to the area.

This, according to Togbe Afede, formed part of the peace process and commended the two paramount chiefs for their resolve to ensure that peace returned to their respective areas.

Touching on the need to ensure peace after the Supreme Court had given judgment on the election petition, Togbe Afede appealed to all traditional authorities in the region to ensure that there is absolute peace.

He stressed that there was no need for violence no matter the decision of the court and that peace of the nation must reign supreme over individuals or groups.

Togbe Afede noted that the only thing that distinguished Ghana from other Africa nations was the absolute peace in the country, which has given hope to investors to invest in the country without fear.

He also urged all the parties in the election case to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court in order to ensure that the peace being enjoyed currently would not be disturbed saying "we should not allow the ambitions or desires of few people to disturb the peace because the desires of the few is not higher than the general interest of the nation".

The Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna III on behalf of the Volta Region House of Chiefs presented a stool, a sandals and a ram to the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs for the commitment shown towards the development of the Chieftaincy institution so far and being the first time the Minister visited the region since he was appointed.