Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend called on traditional authorities to collaborate with government to roll on the impact of the global development trends to rural communities. This, he said, could be done if chiefs spearheaded the fight against outmoded cultural practices, like widowhood rites, forcing children into marriages and disrespect for the property right of women. Vice President Mahama made the call during a durbar of the chiefs and people of Sefwi-Anwhiaso in the Western Region. "In this era of global gender sensitivity, such customs not only reduce the dignity and right of our women but also impact negatively on society as a whole." Vice President Mahama said Ghana could develop very fast if it adopted a progressive attitude towards culture to enhance the quality of life of the people. He also asked chiefs to extend their leadership roles to the management of natural resources. He spoke against dispute between communities and investors over land and mineral rights, which had the tendency to set back the country's forward march to prosperity. "Natural resources are useful only to the extent that they are exploited." Vice President Mahama said government was totally committed to the rule of law and will ensure that harnessing of natural resources was done within the framework of natural resource management. He said government was addressing the problem of land security tenure with the support of the Land Administration Project to help promote investment. Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, Paramount Chief of Sefwi-Anwhiaso Traditional area called on government to speed up the rehabilitation of roads under the cocoa road project and a hostel and dormitory facility for the Bibiani Senior High School. Vice President Mahama inspected a 1.4 billion cedi- ten unit police quarters at Anhwiaso and 1.7 billion cedi children and women's ward at the Bibiani government hospital. He commended Bibiani District Chief Executive, Mr Kingsley Adjei Manu for being proactive in bringing development to the district. Source: GNA