By James Esuon
Agona Swedru (C/R) June 17, GNA- Nana Okukudurfo Kweku Asona Otabil X, the Adontenhene of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, has called on the relevant authorities to implement strict measures to regulate the use of muskets during public events such as traditional rites, festivals and funeral ceremonies.
According to Nana Otabil, who is also the Chief of Gomoa Ablekum in Gomoa West, while the practice remained an important aspect of Ghanaian tradition and culture, the lack of proper regulation posed high risks to public safety and needed to be checked during such events.
The chief made the call at Agona Swedru, when he spoke to the media during the final funeral rites of the late Nana Dr Bright Oduro Kwarteng, former Chief Director of the Ministry of Local Government in the first administration of President John Mahama
The funeral of the late Chief Director, who was also the Gyantuahene of Agona Swedru’s, was attended by Chief Directors of Ministry of the Local Government and Tourism, Municipal and District Chief Executives, MPs, Paramount Chiefs and Queen mothers and Mr Kwesi Pratt, the Managing Editor of Insight Newspaper as well as the hierarchy of Convention Peoples Party (CPP).
Nana Asona Otabil said apart from the risk of injuring or killing people on the spot during such events, the health risk posed by the thick smoke it produced was high.
A regulation by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs would therefore go a long way to curb such occurrences during public ceremonies.
He urged the youth to adopt responsible lifestyles and endeavour to engage in productive activities that would promote effective and efficient development in their communities and the nation at large.
Meanwhile, the chiefs, MPs and MMDCEs who attended the late Gyantuahene’s funeral, described him as a man of peace who was development-oriented, generous, committed and a hardworking public servant who contributed to the development of Agona Swedru and the nation.
The Swedruman Council of Chiefs led by the regent of Agona Swedru, Nana Kweku Esieni V, also paid their last respect to the late Gyantuahene who was also a member f the council
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah