Traditional Priests, Cuban Ambassador call on Vice
President
Accra, Feb. 10, Ghanadot/GNA - Vice
President John Dramani Mahama has given an assurance
that Government would work in the interest of the
Ga-Dangme people and protect their lands.
He said the Government would enter into a dialogue
with them on what new use to put State acquired
lands for which the original purpose of acquisition
had changed.
Vice President Mahama gave the assurance when a
delegation of Ga-Dangme Traditional Priests called
on him at the Castle, Osu to congratulate him and
the President John Evans Atta Mills on their
election as President and Vice President of the
Republic of Ghana.
Vice President Mahama paid tribute to the people of
the Ga-Dangme State for hosting the national
capital.
He, however, observed that the hosting had put
pressure on the culture and customs of the people,
adding that the Greater Accra Regional
Minister-Nominee, Nii Armah Ashietey would be the
Government’s chief consultant to address issues of
concern affecting the Ga-Dangme State.
Vice President Mahama urged traditional authorities
to unite, saying Government was not happy with
chieftaincy conflicts that affected sections of the
Ga-Dangme State.
He urged Ga Chiefs to close their ranks, be united
and to work together to propel the development of
their areas.
Nii Gbelenfo, the Gua Wulomo, who led the
delegation, said they would play their part in the
national development effort.
He said the traditional priests were the original
owners the Ga lands, with the traditional chiefs as
trustees.
He called on the Government to involve the
traditional priest and seek their inputs into
matters relating to governance.
Nii Gbelenfo appealed to Government to impress on a
section of the security agencies to stop the
harassment of the Ga-Dangme people during
traditional celebrations.
He also called for payment of Government allowances
and other forms of remuneration for the traditional
priests.
Also at the Castle to pay a courtesy call on the
Vice President was a delegation from the Cuban
Embassy, led Cuban by the Cuban Ambassador to Ghana,
Dr Miguel Perez Cruz.
Vice President Mahama praised the co-operation
existing between Ghana and Cuba and commended Cuban
assistance to Ghana in the areas of medical services
through the Cuban Medical Brigade and Cuban training
of Ghanaian youth that emphasized hard work,
industriousness and excellence.
He said Cuba had also assisted Ghana in the areas
non-formal education, which was aimed at eradicating
illiteracy, and called for the renewal of efforts
assist to train specialist in tele-medicine.
Vice President Mahama said the Government was bent
on transforming the Tamale Hospital into a first
class teaching hospital.
He suggested to the Cuban Government to take
advantage of the changing American foreign policy
and to forge trade links with the USA to accelerate
its development.
Dr Cruz reiterated the collaboration between Cuba
and Ghana.
Alhaji Mohmmed Mumuni, Minister of Foreign
Affairs-Nominee, who accompanied the delegation,
welcomed the friendship between the two countries.
Also at the Castle was a delegation from the ICT
Business Community, led by Mr Leslie Tamakloe.
The Vice President noted the improvements in the
national telephony penetration, and pledged
Government assistance to the ICT community.
He underlined the need for the nation to apply ICT
and said the time had come to promote local content
in ICT to accelerate the development of Africa.
Mr Tamakloe listed some challenges of the local ICT
industry as monopoly of some foreign firms with
bandwidth, and their attendant high cost.
He said as Ghanaians they wanted to enjoy a certain
level of leverage from the Government to enable them
to play meaningful role in the application of ICT to
engender the growth of the economy.
GNA
