By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Anyako (VR) Feb. 21, GNA – Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has embarked on a working visit to the Amugo-Vego Traditional Council in the Keta Municipality, led by Torgbui Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, to deepen participatory governance and enhance collaboration with traditional authorities.
The visit was to integrate chieftaincy into local governance to align with the governance vision by President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that traditional councils are regularly briefed on development issues by assemblies.
Mr Gunu, during the visit expressed appreciation to the chiefs and queen mothers of the traditional council for their courtesy call last year and reiterated the directive that all MDCEs must participate in traditional council meetings to foster development synergy.
“Building the Volta Region requires immediate action. There is no time to waste in strengthening local governance and development partnerships with traditional authorities,” he said.
He urged the chiefs to help resolve any chieftaincy disputes among themselves that could eventually hinder development projects and discourage investors to ensure a conducive environment for growth.
He informed the Council that the long-standing water challenge in Anyako and its environs has been resolved, with work completed on the ongoing water mechanisation project and promised that official commissioning exercise would be held soon to restore reliable water supply in the area.
Mr Wisdom Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who was also part of the team, highlighted key interventions underway in Keta Municipality, including addressing community indiscipline and appealed to chiefs to support character-building and discipline among the youth.
“The Assembly has announced a Sanitation Crusade Programme beyond the President’s national initiative, where communities would compete, receive training and tools, and the best would be recognised, in an extra sanitation day.”
He mentioned that the Assembly would introduce an additional sanitation day to strengthen community sanitation efforts and promote healthy environments in the municipality.
In the area of education, the MCE stated that to address the challenging teacher deficit and improve education in the area, the Assembly has established a Teacher Support Fund to complement government efforts in training and supporting more teachers.
The MCE also called on chiefs to promote cultural tourism to boost local economic development in the Keta Municipality, Volta Region and beyond to boost the local economy to improve and develop every individual.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, the Paramount Chief of Amugo-Vego Traditional Area, and Dufia of Anyako, who received the relegation, thanked the Regional Minister and his team for the visit which would strengthen collaboration between government and traditional authorities as well as build strong bond for development.
Togbi Tenge, who is also Head of ‘Bate Clan,’ urged government to prioritise and engage traditional authorities regularly in decision making for collective ideas which would benefit the communities and uplift the living standard of individuals.
Ghana News Agency gathered that the visit also underscored the importance of collaboration between local government and traditional authorities for integrated development and effective governance in the region.
The initiatives announced during the visit aimed to foster community development, improve service delivery, and empower the youth and local economies in the Volta Region and beyond.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade