Accra: Mr Francis Opai Tetteh, the General Secretary of the Council for GaDangme Divisional Chiefs and Queens, has urged the rebranding of the chieftaincy institution to enhance its role in fostering socio-economic development in Ga and Dangme communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Tetteh emphasized that many Ga and Dangme traditional areas lag in development compared to other regions, necessitating a renewed approach to traditional leadership and community mobilization. His remarks followed a quarterly meeting of the council, a collaborative body comprising divisional chiefs and queens acting as cabinet ministers in their respective areas.
The council represents traditional leaders from paramountcies including Tema, Nungua, Teshie, La, Osu, Ngleshie Alata, Gbawe, Ada, Prampram, Ningo, Osudoku, Shai, Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, and other GaDangme areas. Mr Tetteh attributed the development gap partly to insufficient lobbying by political leaders and the historical lack of major development interventions by some religious organizations in these communities.
He highlighted the need for traditional leaders to confront internal challenges hindering development efforts. Key obstacles include internal disputes, multiple installations of chiefs and queens on the same stool, land-related conflicts, and prolonged chieftaincy litigation.
To address these issues, the council engaged an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialist during the meeting to provide traditional leaders with practical skills for resolving disputes amicably, thereby avoiding lengthy court battles. Mr Tetteh noted that the meeting's recommendations and resolutions would be compiled into a working document to guide the council's future activities.
Addressing land administration challenges, he acknowledged concerns over multiple land sales involving some traditional authorities. He pointed out that responsibility for land disputes also lies with land guards, fraudsters, and criminal syndicates involved in land theft. Some individuals and groups deliberately encroach on lands belonging to indigenous families and communities, exploiting information on undeveloped lands for illegal acquisitions.
Mr Tetteh cited instances where lands acquired decades ago had been unlawfully occupied and developed, leading to difficult recoveries and prolonged legal disputes. He urged prospective land buyers and developers to conduct thorough due diligence before acquiring land.
He also advised developers in the Greater Accra Region to embrace vertical development to maximize limited land resources. 'The space is not horizontal; the space is vertical. The space is up,' he said, encouraging modern urban planning practices involving multi-storey buildings to address increasing land pressure in urban centers.
Mr Tetteh expressed optimism that with stronger collaboration among traditional leaders, government agencies, and local communities, the GaDangme traditional areas could achieve sustainable development and preserve their cultural heritage for future generations.