LAWRA CELEBRATES KOBINE FESTIVAL (PAGE 26, OCT 16)

THE chiefs and people of Lawra Traditional Area in the Upper West Region at the weekend celebrated their annual Kobine festival amid pomp and pageantry.
The festival, which was on the theme: “Kobine, a tool for socio-economic empowerment”, attracted people from all walks life.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs and Culture, Mr Alex Asum–Ahensah, underscored the important role chiefs played in the development of the nation.
He, however, expressed regret about the crippling conflicts and disputes in some communities which were retarding the progress of those communities.
“These days, the greatness of chiefs and traditional leaders are not measured by the number of tribal wars fought and won but by developments projects they support and complete,” he added
Mr Asum-Ahensah said the frustrating deeds of chieftaincy contractors would be brought to an end in the future if the Chieftaincy Act of 2008 “Act 759) was strictly adhered to.
Mr Asum-Ahensah stated that Ghana was among the countries in West Africa with many ethnic groups yet the people had co-existed peacefully and contributed significantly towards the development of the various communities in the country.
He said the credit must go to the traditional rulers for their able leadership and for serving as a focal point for communal spirit and development since time immemorial.
The minister stressed the need for people to educate their children to meet the demands of the varied expertise required by industries, especially now that the country had struck oil.
He commended the Lawra Traditional Council for putting strategies in place to take advantage of the Savannah Accelerated Development Programme for the benefit of all.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, commended the chiefs and people of the area for ensuring peace at all times in their various communities.
He gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide the necessary support for Ghanaians towards the improvement of the living standards of the people.
The Member of Parliament for Lawra-Nandom, Mr Ambrose Dery, assured the people that he would continue to lobby for development projects for the area.
The Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area, Naa Puowele Karbo III, appealed to the government to help develop the town, especially the construction of the Kamba Dam.