The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs last Thursday inaugurated the Agortime Traditional Council, as well as its office built through their resources at Kpetoe last Thursday.

The nine-member council, headed by the President, Nene Nuer Keteku IV, was sworn into office by the Presiding Judge of the Ho Magistrate Court, His Worship Albert Annor-Owusu.

In his address, Nene Nuer Keteku IV expressed the new traditional council’s joy that at long last they could now determine their chieftaincy issues at home.

He said since 1942, all their issues had been deliberated in Ho when they belonged to the Asogli Traditional Council.

Humility

Nene Keteku IV, therefore, urged the members of the traditional council to use their new autonomy to serve their people with a sense of humility, transparency and accountability always.

Nene Nuer Keteku IV being assisted by Manye Kwawudade (right), Queenmother of Agortime, to inaugurate the traditional council’s office

The council, he said, should be a platform for meaningful discussions aimed at bringing peace and unity for rapid development and growth.

Nene Keteku IV gave the assurance that they would serve as a repository of the customs and traditions of the people and uphold the values of harmony, justice and integrity instilled in them by their forebears which had ensured the sustainability of the area.

Presiding over the joint inaugural ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Nana Keteku said the government appreciated the role of the chieftaincy institution in maintaining peace and ensuring development.

Traditional council

Mr Asamoah Boateng tasked the chiefs to exercise their mandate as enshrined in the Chieftaincy Act of 2008, Act 759, which stipulated the institution of a traditional council within each traditional area.

“There shall be a traditional council within each traditional area. The jurisdiction of a traditional council shall be exercised by a judicial committee comprising three or five members appointed by the council from their members”, he said.

He said the government was doing a lot to uphold the chieftaincy institution, which was to lead the people in mobilising resources for local development.

He added that the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs would as soon as possible post staff and logistics to the Agortime Traditional Council to facilitate the running of their office to ensure unity and rapid development.

The District Chief Executive of Agortime-Ziope, Emelia Adzimah, expressed her satisfaction at the elevation of the area to a paramountcy which the people had longed for over the years.

Ms Adzimah called on the founder members of the council to be fair and impartial in their deliberations to ensure progress in the area.