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The Western Regional House of Chiefs, at its annual general meeting in Sekondi, has called on the government to re-empower chiefs to perform pertinent functions in the communities to promote total community development. They noted that chiefs were in direct contact with the people in the communities, therefore, they were better placed to ensure that they performed their civic responsibilities adequately. The chiefs referred to the sanitation programme embarked upon by the government and said they could ensure its perfect operation. Awulae Angama Tu-Agyan, Chief of Bamiakor, who made the presentation, noted that the colonial masters recognized the importance and influential position of chiefs, therefore, they governed through . However, the recognition given to chiefs in governance, he said, was eroding. He said for instance chiefs enforced certain taboos that went a long way to preserve the water bodies, forests and other resources but these resources were being destroyed because of governmental interference. The chiefs expressed regret about the government�s failure in releasing funds to the House to perform its activities and urged it to act fast. Nana Kwasi Agyeman, Vice President of the House, and Omanhene of Lower Dixcove, said 30 cases were pending before the House, and expressed the hope that they would deal with them expeditiously. On the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, Nana Agyeman entreated the chiefs to organize programmes and invite health experts to educate their people for them to act hygienically to prevent the disease from spreading from some West African countries to Ghana. Mr Alfred Ekow Gyan, Deputy Western Regional Minister, encouraged the chiefs to highlight the importance of the preservation of the nation�s cultural heritage, at durbars, in an effort to curb the moral decadence that was destroying the fabric of society. Recognizing the importance of chiefs, the deputy Minister urged them to cooperate with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in development efforts to meet the aspirations of the people. As the coastal belt has become attractive to investors because of the oil exploration, Mr Gyan said the chiefs should make the best out of any transaction on land leases by using it as equity for the future generation to benefit from the dividends of the investments.