PEACE WALK HELD AT BECHEM

The Tano South District Directorate of the National Commission on Civic Education in collaboration with the Tano South District Assembly has organized a peace walk in Bechem in preparation towards the attainment of peace in the district before, during and after the pronouncement of the final verdict of the election 2012 petition case pending before the supreme court of Ghana.  

The peace walk which saw members of all political parties, chiefs, opinion leaders, religious heads and Muslims alike with placards some of which read “peace peace peace”, “accept the verdict”, “peace not war” walking through the principal street of Bechem amid  brass band music.

In messages in support of the attainment of peace delivered by the constituency chairmen of various political parties, Mr. Asare Antwi of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said, the New Patriotic Party believed in the rule of law hence their petition to the supreme court challenging he results of the presidential polls of 2012 as announced by the electoral commissioner, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan and promised that his party is ever prepared to accept the verdict of the supreme court judges in good faith.

The zonal chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Kofi Mensah on the other hand also stressed that members of his party in the constituency is also committed in accepting the final verdict of the supreme court and hinted that Ghana is the only country we have and for that matter Ghanaians must live in peace as one people no matter their political differences.

In a speech, the Tano South District Director of the NCCE Ms. Cynthia Animah Boadu said the 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana mandates that results of elections could be challenged at the supreme court of Ghana for redress and for that matter going to court on election petition does not mean that the country must be tend into chaos and stress that the country has enjoyed an enviable peace since the beginning of the supreme court case and appealed to all and sundry to accept the final verdict of the supreme court.  Ms. Animah cited Rwanda, Ivory Coast, and Liberia as countries which have experience wars and lamented on how they suffered and called for total peace in the country.

The Tano South District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba in a short speech said that no one is above the laws of the land no matter his/her religious, political or ethnic background and for that reason verdict of our court are to be obeyed and therefore the final verdict of the supreme court is no exception which should be seen as a different thing all together.  He said people should not take advantage of the nature of the court case which is an election petition and take the laws into their own hands and misbehave since the law enforcement agencies would not spare such people.

 

Hon. Anaba called on all not to entertain any fear when they see the security personnel patrolling the town or some part of the district since they are part of measures put in place to bring peace and harmony to the people and urged supporters of both the NDC and NPP to be very circumspect in their utterances before, during and after the supreme court verdict.  The Hon. DCE called on the people to be on the lookout for people who are creating fear and panic in the people since some of these tactics are tricks used by robbers to take advantage and rob innocent people and warned those people that the security agencies are highly on the alert for them.

2ND EDITION OF ADEKYEM FESTIVAL WAS LAUNCHED IN THE TANO SOUTH DISTRICT,BECHEM

The 2^nd edition of the Adekyem festival which was launched by the chiefs and people of Bechem Traditional Area to establish an education fund to cater for the needy and brilliant children entering into second cycle institutions.

In his welcome address, Nana Fosu Gyeabour II, Omanhene of  Bechem Traditional area and president of the Bechem Traditional council who chaired the function  said the name Bechem was derived from the word share since the Ashanti’s  booties gained was shared there when the Ashantis were returning to their place from the Brong Ahafo Region.

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, said festivals are celebrated to rekindle the rich cultural heritage of the people of the area and also to bring citizens together as a home coming and also as a tool of bringing development to the area. Nana Gyeabour  hinted that the Traditional councils in the process of establishing palm oil factory at Bechem and as such a factory  the building is almost 80% complete whilst machinery for the factory which was built by the Rural Technology Facility at Bechem is ready for installation  when the building is completed. Nana said this venture had become possible due to the oil palm plantation established in Bechem under the President Special Initiative since fruits derived from the plantation had to be sent to Juaben for extraction factory established there.

In his address, the Tano South District Chief Executive Hon. Bukari  Zakari  Anaba congratulated Nananom for the foresight in instituting the Adekyem festival since it had gone a long way to bring development in the area.

Hon. Anaba said though the District Assembly had instituted a scholarship package to boost education in the area and the establishment of the Atanofo Educational fund established under the auspices of the Adekyem festival planning committee had also gone a long to help the needy but brilliant children in the Traditional area. The District Chief Executive hinted that the district assembly would also do all it can to help the investors who are willing to invest  in burnt bricks, pot and earthenware on the clay deposits found in the area.

Hon. Anaba charged the people to take advantage of the rural technology facility and acquire basic machinery which will help them in their various fields.

The secretary to the education fund Mr. Yaw  Adu  Gyamfi in a report said 27 children have benefited from the scholarship package since the establishment of the fund for the 2011-2012 academic year and hoped a good number of children would be helped in the ensuring years. Mr. Adu Gyamfi hinted that the beneficiary children would be helped through the second cycle school to the tertiary level and charged the people to embrace the idea and contribute genuinely to the fund.

The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister Hon. Justice Samuel Adjei said celebrations of festivals in the country is an essential part of our culture and admittedly festivals are also very important occasions, because of the political, social, economical, moral and religious significant they impact on the people.

Hon. Adjei said government recognizes and appreciate Nananom as custodians of our culture, customs and traditions and the institution of festivals through the kind of leadership of Nananom often times serve as an eye opener which enable both the indigenous of place and foreigners who visit such occasions to know more about the culture and history of the celebrating the festival.

The Deputy Regional Minister used the occasion to admonish the youth to always aspire to be patient, disciplined, diligent and hardworking and also learn to accord respect to Nananom and the elderly in the various communities and desist from taking the law into their own hands but learn to always communicate their issues and grievances through the appropriate channels and institution in their various communities for their amicable settlement or redress.

The Deputy Minister pleaded that Nananom will always be there to provide the people with good leadership skills and advice in times of difficult situations and hoped Nananom will continue with the relentless efforts, towards the amicable resolution of the numerous chieftaincy and land disputes that threatening the peace and unity of the people of the region.

Hon. Adjei said today’s occasion should therefore remind us of the chords of unity, love, tolerance and brotherliness that exist among our forebears.

Hon. Adjei said he found the theme for the celebration “Adekyem Festival as a tool for the social economic development of  Bechem Traditional Area” very important and a positive event which should be given all the support it deserves to make it a reality and duly launched the festival.