Bonoman Institute has noted concerns and issues that mitigate a sustained and enhanced development of the Bono Regions and calls for concerted efforts to address them.
The Institute said chiefs have key roles in development, but the many unresolved disputes within the institution have derailed the progress of the regions.
In a press release, the Institute outlined some of the issues of higher concerns that they believe require the involvement of all stakeholders to deal with in the interest of the Bono and Bono East Regions.
The release described the promotion of peace and unity amongst Bono Chiefs as an irreplaceable mission that the chiefs, elders and political elites should, as a matter of urgency, work towards achievement.
“We cannot develop as a region when we have so many unresolved disputes”, it said and added that the many unsolved intra-chieftaincy disputes are one of the agents that push development far behind since the environment lacks the right energy to have the needed cohesion for development.
The release also mentioned conflicts with other chiefs outside the region as an emerging issue that needs to be addressed by the chiefs with other relevant institutions for the sake of peace and tranquillity in contemporary Ghana.
“Escalating issues related to chieftaincy issues, particularly through some chiefs, is what we plead on the national security and the government in general, for the sake of posterity and development in the Bono Regions, to objectively address. It has the potential to draw these regions back in development”.
The Institute implored the Bono chiefs to lead the efforts to industrialize the regions “to enhance employment promotion as well as harness the region’s agricultural capacity through an enhanced value chain to improve the economic values of the people, particularly farmers and the youths”.
They believe the regions will be positioned for trade and other economic activities if the chiefs liaise with politicians and their natives who have risen in business for urgent actions that promote development.
While admonishing the people of the Bono Regions to come out of their shells to defy all odds and make a difference, the Institute also called on authorities to deal with growing cases of armed robbery on the highways and cattle herdsmen attacks on farmers as well as the use of their cattle to destroy others farms.
The Institute also said, “The development of the Bono Twi dialect is yet another important element required to bring about the needed development and identity of the people of the Bono Regions”, hence their determination to implement it to enhance development.
The release, signed by the Executive Directors, Attah Akoto Snr and Ansu Gyabaah, in charge of Operations and Affairs, respectively, said the “Protection of the natural resources from unscrupulous people who selfishly steal or find ways to own them should be a matter of grave concern to us”.
The Institute assured of its commitment to work with all stakeholders and harness the potential of the human resources to consciously bring development to the people of the Bono Regions to affect Ghana as a whole.
Bonoman Institute is an organization with the mission to be a resource hub that works to ensure the absolute development of the Bono people through documentation, preservation and promotion of their culture, history and heritage, as well as highlight and enhance their potential to contribute to local, regional, national and global economic development.
Source: JoyOnline