The Vice President John Mahama has advised traditional rulers against rushing to the law courts to settle chieftaincy disputes.
He said the ever increasing backlog of cases involving chieftaincy at the courts made it imperative for chiefs to employ the time tested traditional precepts of mediation and conciliation in resolving their differences.
Vice President Mahama was speaking at a grand durbar to climax the annual Damba festival of the chiefs and people of Gonja traditional area.
The durbar, which took place at the forecourt of the Jakpa Palace, also marked the first anniversary of the installation of the overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa I.
It brought together ministers of state, parliamentarians and representatives of political parties. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was the special guest, was represented by the Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku.
Vice President Mahama stressed the need for traditional authorities to have confidence in traditional conflict and dispute resolution mechanisms, saying, “The courts are not the best place to test our traditions and customs that span decades and centuries.”
Noting a re-ignition of a long standing boundary dispute between the Gonjas and the Mamprusis, he informed the chiefs and people that a committee of the Stool Lands Commission had been tasked to find an amicable settlement once and for all.
Focusing on the government’s development programmes, he announced that a donors conference to enable the government and its development partners to make a definite financial commitment to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, would be held in May this year.
To enable the country to derive the maximum tourism potentials of the Mole National Park, the Vice-President said talks were underway with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, owners of the park, to upgrade it.
The sod would soon be cut for the commencement of work on the much anticipated ‘development corridor’ Sawla/Fufulso road with a 100 milllion dollar facility secured from the African Development Bank, Mr Mahama said, adding, funds had also been secured for the Tamale/Salaga/Mankago road.
“The Damango Water Treatment Project will begin this year in addition to three mechanized bore holes in Bole,” he said, drawing wild applause from the gathering. “A new nurses, teacher training college at Bole and two teacher training colleges project at Gonja will soon begin,” he added.
Vice-President Mahama also informed the chiefs and people that the Ministry of Health had already acquired sites for the construction of new district hospitals in Bole, Buipe and Salaga. Government, through the GETfund, would also continue to build school blocks and rehabilitate existing ones in the Gonja area.
According to him, the Damba festival was celebrated by the people not only in connection with the birth of Prophet Mohammed but manifested the peace and unity of the people. It was also a time for the sub chiefs in Gonjaland to pay homage to their overlord the Yagbonwura.
Vice-President Mahama commended the Yagbonwura Boresa for his foresight and leadership which had ensured peace and stability in the Gonja traditional area. He prayed that festivals such as the Damba would continue to unite the people to facilitate development of the area.
In his address, Tuntumba Boresa said democracy and party politics was good for the country but party politics should not be stretched to nauseating levels when we equate politics with enmity.
“Let us limit the struggle of politics to campaign times when parties of various persuasions do their best to market their manifestoes and achievements,” he said.
The Gonja King stated that he had taken a cue from the Asantehene by establishing the Yagbon Tuntumba Foundation to cater for youth education in general and for the girl child in particular. He urged all to support it.
Story: Office Of The Vice President
23/2/11
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