Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister has stated that the chieftaincy institution was in existence before present day governments and peace and development could not go on without the participation of chiefs in the socio-economic development of society. He said the prevailing peace and unity in the nation today should be sustained throughout elections year 2008. Mr. Amoah made these observations at a durbar on Saturday at Awudu, near Tarkwa to climax the Apinto Edum Kesie Festival and 20th Anniversary celebration of the installation of Nana Kwaebene Angu II, Chief of Apinto Divisional Area. Preceding the durbar, Nana Angu and the queen mother Nana Esi Kwantsimah II were carried in palanquins through the streets of Awudua with brass band music and Asafo drumming to the durbar grounds where they were greeted by the chiefs and people of the area. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Amoah, who described chiefs as a uniting factor, said this could be done in various ways, including mobilizing people without favouritism, the use of culture as a kind of correction and embracing everybody, irrespective of ones political background. He said minor disputes could be resolved at the grassroots level before they escalated into conflicts that undermined development. The Western Regional Minister said CAN 2008 was just around the corner and parents should advise their children not to indulge in prostitution, gay and lesbianism which would leave in its trail sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/ AIDS. He also appealed to chiefs to be very careful in releasing tracts of land for investors, adding that they should consult the State Attorney’s office for advice in order not to deprive future generations access to land for development. Nana Angu said the stool started a scholarship scheme in 1994, and since then, thirty-nine people have benefited up to tertiary levels. He said the stool has spent over one billion cedis on books, payment of school fees, and uniforms, in order to have the children educated to enable them to attain qualifications needed for gainful employment. Nana Angu said more than two billion cedis were spent in renovating the palace which was vandalized in the wake of chieftaincy disputes; compensated those who lost their properties and built houses which were destroyed. He said all these were meant to bring about peace at Awudua and called on the people to forget the past and forge ahead in unity to develop Awudua. He said henceforth, the Divisional Area has band funeral activities after 1800 hour in the evening. Osabarima Kwaw Entsie II, the Omanhene of Mpohor Traditional Area, who chaired the function appealed to parents to put premium on their children’s education rather than indulging in activities which would not maintain them during old age. He appealed to the people to support the chiefs to sustain the peace being enjoyed after the chieftaincy disputes. Sixteen companies and individuals were presented with awards for their contribution toward the development of the area. Source: GNA