The Gbese Mantse, Nii (Dr) Ayi-Bonte II has been awarded with the Honorary Doctorate of Leadership and Humanity(HonoriCausa) by the Elokim Theological College and Seminary.
The award was the second to be received by NiiAyi-Bonte following an honorary doctorate in 2018 by the Riches Bible College and Clergy Council together with the Riches Theological University in Koforidua.
The colourful event which took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra was also used to launch the GbeseAfrosa Educational Endowment Fund to support formal education of needy but brilliant students in Gbese.
It was sponsored by Zeepay Mobile Money, National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Ghana Cocoa Board, Electricity Company(Ghana) Ltd, Guinness Ghana and K-NET while many dignitaries including divisional chiefs under Gbese stool graced the occasion.
In his acceptance speech, Nii Ayi-Bonte thanked the institution for honouring him adding that the gesture showed that the Gbese stool together with the people were being observed as different development projects have been initiated in the area.
He said since his ascension to the stool, he has been able to put a lot of governance structures and policies in the 92 satellite towns under the stool to harness all resources in these areas to the benefit of the people.
NiiAyi-Bonte said one of the focus in his traditional leadership role has been on maintaining the peace and tranquility in Gbese area and the Ga state in general.
He said “I would continue to un-relentlessly campaign for people-centered policies to bring permanent healing process in areas affected by chieftaincy disputes.”
The Gbese Mantse said in his pursuit of development agenda, the stool has put in place socio-economic policies to bring modernity and sanity as the chieftaincy institution has become rather dynamic to the changes of the times adding scholarships schemes has been initiated to help well deserved students to further their education.
Nii Ayi-Bonte said in order to bring modernity to the town, he has pulled down the over century old dilapidated GbeseMantse Palace and in its place a new three- storey Gbese Mantse Palace complex which would contain a spacious conference centre, a Royal Court Guest apartment and other state of the art facilities.
He commended the sponsors of the event for supporting the Gbese stool to organise the event adding that it was a journey and a commitment to many of the corporate entities in his jurisdiction.
Nii Ayi-Bonte used the occasion to send his Christmas and New Year felicitations to those present and to the people of Ga Mashie, the Ga State and Ghanaians in general.
BY LAWRENCE MARKWEI
