The Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has ended his five divisional tour within the Akyem Abuakwa State.
The divisional durbar afforded the Okyenhene the opportunity to touch base with his subjects and also ascertain the state of the divisions as part of his 25th anniversary celebration.
The divisional durbar started with the Adonten division at Kukurantumi, followed by Benkum division in Begoro, Nifa in Asiakwa, Oseawuo in Wenchi and Gyaase division in Kwaben.
The grand durbar commemorating the Okyenhene’s 25th anniversary is slated for October 12, 2024 at the Akyem Abuakwa State Capital in Kyebi.
The Grand durbar at Kyebi will be attended by a host of chiefs within Akyem Abuakwa and across the country, solidifying with the Okyenhene.
According to the anniversary Planning committee, the final durbar shall be a day to showcase the culture and tradition of Okyeman.
Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin commissioned the Amoatia Ofori Panin Model Schools doted across the Akyem Abuakwa State to compliment government effort in providing decent classrooms.
The Amoatia Ofori Panin Model Schools is established to pay special attention to the teaching of Maths, Science and technology at the basic school level.
Throughout the divisional tour, Osagyefuo has been talking about the need to invest in education and in particular, women empowerment.
He has also been advocating for better condition of service for teachers and equal opportunities for both rural and urban children in respect of education.
Addressing the last divisional durbar in the Gyaase division of the Akyem Abuakwa State as part of activities marking his 25th anniversary celebration on the ascension to the Ofori Panin Stool, Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin announced that, the incident of illegal mining coupled with the many abandoned open pits continue to pose health risk to the citizens.
He indicated that, all abandoned mines shall be reclaimed by the traditional council and same be taken over for life.
‘We have a decree at the State Council that, any landowner who releases his/her land to a miner stand the chance of losing it for life if the miners do not reclaim the land after mining. We shall look for resources and reclaim those lands and hold the interest in that land and nobody can do anything about it.’ Okyenhene
He expressed worry over the devastation being caused by illegal mining and its health implications within mining communities in the country.
‘Today some new babies are born with deformities. Some without hands, eyes and all forms of deformities due to the toxicity nature of the chemicals left in our waters and land. People come here to mine, destroy our lands and leave to their hometown and enjoy and you sit here as a land owner and continue to release your land for illegal miners? It’s unthinkable! ‘ Osagyefuo noted
He warned people with interest in lands who declined to release their lands for developmental projects, indicating that the stool holds the allodial title in all lands within the Akyem Abuakwa State.
“Our arrangement is that, all natives can cultivate as many bare lands as they wish and keep the land for themselves and theirs. However, if the state requires land for development, that land can be taken over and compensation paid to the owner. Nobody can resist development in this area.’ Okyenhene educate his subjects” he added.
Source: Maxwell Kudekor