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Supreme Chief of Akyem-Abuakwa Traditional Zone Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin urged Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help resolve persistent conflicts between pastoralists and farmers of the sub-region.
He said the perpetual conflicts between nomadic cattle herders and sedentary farming communities must be addressed for their mutual benefit.
He said beef production was a critical aspect of the agricultural sub-economy that cut across the West African sub-region.
The Okyenhene made the appeal on Thursday, during the consultative meeting with traditional and religious leaders on the ECOWAS Vision 2050, held at the Ofori Panin Palace in Kyebi in the Eastern region.
ECOWAS Vision 2050 envisions a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, built on good governance, where citizens have the capacity to access and exploit the region’s enormous resources by creating opportunities for sustainable development. and preservation of the environment.
The Okyenhene said it was important to put special emphasis on agriculture and agribusiness, saying the sub-region was essentially an agrarian economy which accounted for 80 percent of the overall workforce. labor and almost all of the rural labor force.
He said that the agricultural sector has the potential for employment and food security, and that it should be seen as the main objective of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and that it should be effectively linked to the stated objectives, especially energy to ensure food preservation and small rural areas. food industry.
He said, however, that the key priority must be a deliberate step to involve traditional authorities in the use of land resources, administration and land reform policy efforts that are underway in different countries in the region.
The Okyenhene noted that it was refreshing and gratifying to note that such a historic opportunity to strategize for long-term development challenges in the sub-region with a special and unique emphasis on direct leadership involvement. traditional stood outside the nation’s capital.
“It is a solid and glorifying tribute to the positive role that traditional authority can play in the social and economic upliftment of our people and the many ways in which it can contribute to the goal of national progress and prosperity,” said he declared.
He said this also signified the distinguished priority and commitment for the achievement of the stated goals of ECOWAS Vision 2050 by the ECOWAS Commission, adding that the consultative meeting came at an opportune time.
He said the Economic Community of West African States hosts Africa’s largest economic and political union and has a responsibility to set an example for the rest of the continent and the entire developing world. .
He said the sub-region had enormous resources: minerals, forestry, freshwater, marine, a diverse climate that supported all kinds of plants and animal production, potential for cash farming of all types, including ecotourism.
However, despite these enormous opportunities, much attention has not been paid to exploiting the enormous resources of the sub-region with the consequence that the populations of the sub-region have been thrown into the abyss of poverty. mass, despair and degradation, he said.
He said these vast opportunities were hampered by persistent gaps in education, health and skills, but above all by poor governance that had left the sub-region to reach a minimum of 40 percent of its estimated potential.
On governance, the Okyenhene said the gruesome scenes on television screens of young African men losing their lives in the Mediterranean in attempts to reach Europe, highlighted the need to look at the structures and the effectiveness of the governance system and public approaches. policy, planning and implementation of programs in their various countries.
“The institution of the chiefdom is anchored in the psyche of our people, it has respect, legitimacy and a direct relationship with their daily life; materially and spiritually, ”he said.
“The chiefdom is the main source of political socialization which integrates all aspects of religion, economy, environment, traditional medicine, marriage, self-identity and public peace.
He said it was not enough for politicians to invade Nananom palaces every four or five years when contesting the elections, “They must be forced to commit to instituting legislative measures to ensure inclusiveness of citizens. traditional actors at all levels of governance in the spirit of decentralization. and popular participation. ”
Mrs. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration designate, recalled that the ECOWAS Vision 2020 was adopted in June 2007 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS as development plan for the transformation of West Africa into a borderless, peaceful and prosperous region by 2020.
She said that the ECOWAS Vision 2020 ended in December 2020, requiring the development of a roadmap for the preparation of the Post 2020 Vision – now called the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
She said that the processes to develop the ECOWAS Vision 2050 started in January 2019 and that the meeting was part of this ongoing process.
“Achieving this noble vision depends to a large extent on local actions taken by our community citizens with the support of our traditional and religious leaders who are the custodians of our societal norms,” she said.
Madam Finda Koroma, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, said Ghana’s selection for the first round of consultations was deliberate as they sought to return to the roots of Pan-Africanism founded by Ghana’s founding fathers.
She said that the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, continued to inspire them.
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