Residents to use demo to push Sekondi royal family to enstool chief for the town

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Some residents of Sekondi in the Western Region are agitating over a long standing chieftaincy dispute in the area which has over a decade impeded the royal family from enstooling a substantive chief for the town. The paramountcy has been without a substantive chief since the demise of the then paramount chief, Nana Awuah Duku in May 17, 2003. Sekondi, largely, a fishing community and a twin city of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, serves as an administrative city for the Western Region. Residents are not pleased with how commercial activities turn out to be sluggish over the years, something they have attributed to the absence of a chief. It is against this background that a group,  Concerned Citizens of Sekondi, intends to stage a peaceful demonstration against the long standing chieftaincy dispute among the royals from the area. The demonstration is slated for March 13. Speaking with the Takoradi-based Connect FM, Secretary to the group, Samuel Kodwo Appah said, the chieftaincy dispute and the delay in enstooling a chief has retarded development in Sekondi. He observed Sekondi is lacking and lagging behind economic and social infrastructure, which he said has resulted in poor livelihood, noting the youth are jobless. “Our youth are walking about just like that without a purpose because all businesses have gone down and that is why we need a chief to manage the affairs of the town to revamp the then Sekondi” he said. He added the situation has affected social order such that illicit sex is rampant, saying “…Sekondi, night scenes of small, small girls; between the ages of 12 and 18 years being abused sexually on our shores is disgusting…”he revealed Mr. Appah said they intend to use the demonstration to mount pressure on the royal families to as a matter of urgency enstooll a substantive chief. The secretary said the residents do not have any interest in any of the factions aspiring to choose a chief but according to him, they are willing to rally behind anyone who emerges as the chief. He thus called on the Sekondi royal family to settle any differences they may have and hasten the enstoolment process. Even though, there is a regent, chief of Sofokrom, Nana Kwese Badu and the queen, Nana Afua Ahema yet Mr. Appah claims for the past 17 years Sekondi has not been celebrating Kundum festival; a local Ahanta festival which he believes has adversely affected their customs and traditions. By Loverideg Ampratwum Okyere|Connect 97.1 FM|3news.com]]>