Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin is advocating for a law that will freeze salaries of parents who have deserted their wards and shun their parenting responsibilities.
He said the frozen salaries should be used by the state to take care of their wards’ education and upkeep.
According to Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, if the state is able to put embargo on the salaries of such class of parents, it will awaken the spirit of responsible parenting in the country and reduce the menace of streetism, while ensuring the safety of these innocent people brought forth.
Speaking at the 2024 Ohum Kan Festival durbar in Kyebi, Okyenhene expressed worry about parents who neglect their children after birth.
“You give birth in your community and abscond to a different town to work without providing for your children. That is irresponsible. The state should be able to freeze your salary or whatever you earn, and use it to take care of the child. You will work but your salary will go to the children you have deserted”, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin stressed.
Okyenhene called on parents to be responsible and ensure the welfare and safety of their children in order to create a safer and peaceful community.
He added that, children who have been left to their fate on the street may return to torment the elite if care is not taken.
Touching on the need to be patriotic and responsible, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin hinted of reports on some teaching and non teaching staff at the various Senior High Schools deliberately sabotaging the Free SHS policy.
He mentioned that, some staff have grown the penchant for stealing food items meant for the school children.
He cited a situation in Kyebi where a staff stole food items meant for the school children. He said such people must be named and shamed.
“The state is struggling to ensure that every Ghanaian child gets some basic education for free. You steal food items meant for these innocent children and create shortage of food in the schools then you have the gust to video food being served in the school and make mockery of its quality to the world. Have you forgotten you stole the stuff ? You don’t have shame ?” Osagyefuo stressed.
He called on Ghanaians to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and love for the country.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin admonished the youth to desist from drug abuse in any form and live a befitting lifestyle.
“They say there is one called tramadol or something, they take it and become sober. It’s not good, you must desist from drug abuse in all forms. The nation needs you,” Okyenhene added.
He wants the Police to aggressively go after drug pushers and prosecute them since their activities have severe consequences on the youth and even the aged.
This year’s Ohum festival coincides with Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s 25th Anniversary celebration on the accession to the Ofori Panin Stool.
The Ohum festival reflects the core Akan belief in unity of life of the dead, the living and the unborn.