A cross-section of non-resident opinion leaders in the Jaman North and South Districts have called on the traditional and political leadership as well as students to work towards the peace and unity of the area for accelerated development. They observed with dismay that the current impasse among some chiefs in the area arising from simmering chieftaincy and land disputes had had a negative impact on the development of the two districts where immense human and natural resources abound. Mr. Kwabena Agyeman-Badu, a Management Consultant, while addressing the University of Ghana, Legon, Branch of the Jaman Students Union (JASU) on campus at the weekend, urged the members to let their activities impact positively on the area’s traditional and political leaders to achieve progress. He called on the students to resolve all inter-personal conflicts among them to pave the way for unity and peace among members of JASU. “If you have a conflict-free union, you will be able to contribute to the resolution of the Drobo-Mpuasu-Suma Ahenkro communal and chieftaincy conflicts. “Your executives could liaise with the chiefs of these communities to discuss the resolution of the long-standing disputes, which are mainly based on land,” he admonished the students. Mr. Agyeman-Badu, who was chairman for the occasion to welcome freshmen and women of the university to the JASU, extolled the virtues of education and urged them to take a cue from role models in education in the area and learn hard. They must also encourage their parents at home to send their children, especially the girl-child, to school. He urged the current Members of Parliament and District Chief Executives of the two districts to take the lead in uniting the chiefs and people and seek the interest of all the people, irrespective of their political affiliations. “The Jaman area abounds in rich natural and human resources. We need the appropriate leadership to tap these resources and that must come from our political leaders in the two districts,” he added. Mr. Kofi Boama Djan, Central Regional Director of the Ghana Highway Authority, noted that the impact of students force had been recognized since time immemorial and congratulated the freshmen and women who had made it to the university. He, however, bemoaned the fact that the female student population from the area still fell far short of expectation. Mr. Boama Djan, who is also an assemblyman of the Jaman South District Assembly, briefed the students on current developments back at home. He said the assembly had received feasibility studies on the “River Papasu Basin Development Project” to link Drobo, Kwasibuokrom and Japekrom. The project is intended to lead to the reclamation of the river path to make way for the establishment of approved facilities and structures within the basin to serve as a recreational and tourism centre. He spoke highly of the performance of educational institutions in the district in both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) this year. The assembly was also able to attain 80 per cent revenue mobilization and to offer employment to a good number of the youth through the different modules of the National Youth Employment Programme. Mr. Boama Djan also spoke about the assembly’s plans to establish an Education Endowment Fund and urged the students to educate the people to contribute to it when it comes into operation. On the bad nature of roads in the two districts, he said work was already progressing on the Drobo-Sampa Trunk Road and dispelled any fears that the project would be abandoned by the government when elections were over. He urged students in their final year to use the area for their project work and think of embarking on consultancy services and initiating projects back at home. “Don’t go through the university but let the university go through you,” he admonished them. Commander Stephen Boateng (Rtd), a businessman, advised the students to use their time very profitably and to gear their education towards specific professions, particularly the army. Dr Johnson Boanu, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Environmental Protection Agency, advised the students to remain focused in their studies but warned that though lots of opportunities abound in the university, these were fraught with dangers. “Lots of distractions abound here and can take much of your time, which is one of the most precious things in life; therefore be disciplined because, if you are disciplined, you can achieve a lot of successes,” he added. Source: GNA