Elders of the Tema Traditional Council are appealing to the Ministry of Lands and Forestry to release outstanding compensation due it to cater for the needs of deprived students in their community. The Council said it has set up an Education Foundation from which it supports the needs of needy students but the Ministry has persistently refused to release the fund due the Council thus denying the children the needed assistance with the excuse that there is a chieftaincy dispute in Tema. Mr Seth Ago Adjetey, Coordinator and an elder of the TTC made the appeal at a durbar held on Friday at Tema Manhean in honour of the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo to mark the town’s Kpledzoo festivities. He denied any chieftaincy dispute in the area as claimed in some quarters and called for the intervention of the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs to help the Council get its compensation for the intended purpose. Mr Adjetey requested that the compensation be paid into the Foundation’s bank account which is run independently by a technical body. He said the Council is duly represented by all clans from Tema Rural, elders, kingmakers as well as the Nii Wolumo so the area cannot be said to be in dispute. He regretted that Tema lands have been released to build the industries yet what is due the indigenes is being denied them. The Coordinator impressed on the Minister to consider changing the name of the region from Greater Accra to reflect on culture values and suggested that it be renamed GA DANGME. The Minister promised to use his good offices to get the Land/Forestry Ministry to release the compensation to the TTC for the scholarship of the deprived since it is aimed at a good course to promote learning to brighten their future. Mr Boafo called for unity among the Elders of the Council and forge ahead with a common purpose to champion their course and always guide against infiltration which encourages troubles. He said as culture is the heartbeat of a nation, traditional elders should not encourage foreign intervention into their culture but rather promote their culture to outside world to attract foreigners to patronize them. The Minister called for a reverse of the practice of installing foreigners as “Nkosuohene” (Chiefs in charge of Development), and rather install citizens resident abroad as they would know their needs and requirements for assistance. He promised to ensure that peace prevails in the chieftaincy industry for smooth development and urged chiefs to remain honest to win the needed respect and confidence from their subjects. Tema Mantse, Nii Adjei Kraku the II pledged to ensure that there was continued relative peace in the industrial city to enable the industries and workers to go about their duties without any hindrance. Kpledzoo is marked with various significant customary rites, dancing and merry-making, settlement of disputes and stock taking with the view to plan for the future. Source: GNA