Tension is mounting in the Wassa East District of the Western region following the cutting of sod by the District chief executive for Wassa East, Wilson Arthur for the commencement of work on a 1D1F project in the Area without the approval of the chief and elders of the Area.
At a community engagement to express their grievances Chief of Wassa Dompim , Nana Kwamina Ennimil said they leased out a stool land to an investor who is into real estate to construct estates in the community.
The necessary documentations were done to that effect while the investor was asked to pay additional money of GH5, 000 Ghana cedis aside the amount paid for the land which was not disclosed.
The additional money, according to the chief will be used to pacify the gods on the land on which the project will be executed.
The investor on the other hand said he could only afford GHc,300 cedis which was accepted by the chief and his elders.
Surprisingly, Nana Kwamina Ennimil said, the investor later told them that he had decided to use the land to rather construct a rubber factory after consulting his bankers and the district chief executive.
He said the DCE had also advised that the project should come under the one district, one factory policy by government to enable the investor access support from the government.
A meeting was therefore arranged between the investor and the elders to ensure proper documentation is done to that effect since there had been a change in the earlier agreement of putting up real estates.
They again called for a community engagement for the investor to spell out his plan for residents in terms of corporate social responsibilities, among others since rubber has a lot of implications both socially and health wise.
These suggestions, he said, were ignored only for a team led by the DCE under the protection of some security personnel and the investor to cut sod for the commencement of the project without the presence and consent of the chief and his elders.
The DCE prior to the sod cutting had had a heated argument with the Member of Parliament for the area, Isaac Adjei Mensah in the studios of Connect 97.1 FM, where the DCE accused the MP of undermining the implementation of the 1D1F policy in the district.
Nana Kwamina Ennimil explained that even though they want the 1D1F in the area, they just wanted it to be done in the right way. According to him, the DCE has disrespected the traditional leadership as well as the gods of the land.
He has therefore called on the DCE to apologize and ensure the right things are done or face their wrath and that of the gods.
“I feel disrespected by Mr. Wilson Arthur and I am calling on him to ensure he apologizes for the smooth execution of the project which we all embrace”.
Member of Parliament for Wassa East, Isaac Adjei Mensah who was present at the meeting, said he believes in development and therefore wishes for the project to be executed but was quick to add that, it should not be done to the detriment of the people and as such will insist on proper consultations before the project is executed.
“I will not allow anybody to take undue advantage of us because of 1D1F, even though I believe in development,” he said.
Gyasehene for Dompim Nana Kwamina Fynn said they are now being wrongfully accused by the youth of being against development. He insists both the investor and the DCE need to do the right thing in their own interest.
Meanwhile, the NPP constituency branch chairman Bismarck Kwesi Mensah who was also present at the meeting has apologized on behalf of the DCE and pledged to ensure he conveys the message to the DCE.
By Benjamin William Peters | 3news.com
