I will work with the Asantehene to solve the nagging chieftaincy concerns – Minister-designate
Mr Samuel Sarpong, Ashanti Regional Minister-designate on Wednesday praised Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for effectively reducing chieftaincy disputes in the region.
He said the Ashanti King had used the “Wisdom of Solomon” to resolve the numerous chieftaincy conflicts in his traditional domain, thus he would have no difficulty in tackling contentious issues when approved to oversee the workings of the region.
Mr Sarpong was answering questions on how he would surmount the many chieftaincy disagreements in the regions when he appeared for vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
“Fortunately for me I would not have much to do in resolving chieftaincy problems in the region because Otumfuo has been able to use his wisdom to settle almost all chieftaincy issues in the region”
He said that he would join forces with the Ashanti sovereign to resolve any remaining chieftaincy issues to bring peace to the region.
Asked how he would deal with the nagging issue of illegal mining that had resulted in violent confrontations between foreigners and locals, Mr Sarpong stated that foreigners would not be allowed to engage in small scale and illegal mining under his stewardship.
He said he would ensure that legislations regulating small scale mining was observed without prejudice and that the directive that that kind of mining was the preserve of local folks would be preserved.
The minister-designate urged companies seeking to undertake mining activities in the region to follow laid-down rules and regulations governing mining in the country.
He declared his intention to engage mining companies, as well as small scale miners to reclaim land degraded through their activities to lessen the impact of their business on the environment.
Mr Sarpong said that he would collaborate with all stakeholders, irrespective of their political colouration, to accelerate the region’s development.
“I am a unifier but I also insist on the right thing being done”, he said.
Mr Bede Ziedeng, Upper West Regional Minister-Designate, when he took his was turn told the committee that he would bring his experience as a former deputy minister of that same region to bear on that largely under-developed part of the country.
Accompanied by a large number of party bigwigs from that region, he described himself as a unifier adding that he would use that attribute to galvanise all shades of opinion in the progress of the region.
Mr Ebenezer Kwodwo Teye Addo, Central Regional Minister-Designate, also promised to engage the security agencies to halt the depletion of fish stock by illegal foreign vessels on Ghana’s territorial waters.
Dr Mustapha Ahmed and Mr Alhassan Azong, both Ministers of state designates at the presidency were also vetted by the committee.
Source: GNA