The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on chiefs and other stakeholders to ensure that lands along water bodies were not developed under any circumstances. He stressed that it was incumbent upon chiefs especially to work hard to protect the various water bodies and other natural resources in their areas of jurisdiction, no matter the cost. He was addressing the annual general meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Thursday. Otumfuo Osei Tutu asked the Research Committee of the House to work assiduously on the modalities concerning land use so that members would be abreast with the facts and see how best they could resolve the issues in their areas. He said they could liaise with the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives to effectively enforce bye-laws on land use at all levels. Concerning the issue of the election of five representatives from the House to the National House of Chiefs (NHC), the Asantehene urged the members to remind the Electoral Commission about what it was doing about it and also contact the NHC of the House’s intention of their representation to the House. The Asantehene, who is the President of the Regional House of Chiefs implored the various committees of the House to be proactive and put things in good order to put the house on a high pedestal. He called on various members who are working for the House at various Departments and organizations to endeavour to submit their reports and findings to the House so that they would help solve to problems confronting them. He advised them to let neutrality be their guiding principles in matters involving disputes in their areas of jurisdiction as a way to end litigation and other issues that impede unity, development and protracted disputes. Otumfuo urged the members to continue to debate on the chieftaincy bills so that they could present positive inputs to Parliament for the promulgation of the bill. Touching on next years general elections, Asantehene asked them to be cautious on how they interact with the various flag bearers who come to them for support so that they do not bring the institution of chieftaincy into disrepute. Source: GNA