Respect, maintain dignity of chieftaincy institution — Nana Hammah-Ababio

Ghanaians have been urged to respect and maintain the dignity of the chieftaincy institution.

Despite challenges, the chieftaincy institutions continue to play vital roles in maintaining peace and development within the communities.

The Omanhen of the Ajumako Traditional Area, Okokodurfo Ogyeeabo Nana Kwamena Hammah-Ababio II, gave this advice when he addressed a gathering of chiefs and people at his palace at Ajumako in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District in the Central Region during the oath-swearing of the Gyaasehen and chief of Kokoben, Nana Kwesi Kru V.

Kokoben, which occupies the Gyaase Division of the traditional area, has been without a chief for some time due to a protracted dispute which led to attempts of destooling of Nana Hammah-Ababio.

Nana Hammah-Ababio particularly advised chiefs and the people in his jurisdiction to respect and maintain the dignity of the paramountcy.

He said even though chiefs in the area lacked resources, they had made sacrifices which called for support from their people to reduce poverty, diseases and squalor.

He said it was his intention to offer exemplary leadership to the people without demanding any payback except due respect for dignity and authority of the paramountcy.

The Omanhen urged the people to follow due process in seeking redress for their grievances instead of resorting to violence, which often led to loss of lives, destruction of property and dissipation of energy and scarce resources needed for development.

Nana Hammah-Ababio reminded the people of the lessons from the dispute and the agitation to destool him, and asked them to forge ahead now that they had resolved the impasse and commended Opanyin Nkum, an elder of Kokoben, for his initiative to resolve the impasse.

Responding, the Gyaasehen pledged to abide by the Omanhen’s advice and mobilise the people to maintain peace for the development of the area.

Nana Kru commended the Omanhen for forgiving his people and said they had learnt a great lesson from the dispute and their actions and added that it would serve as a guide in the future.