• Nana Akua Asantewaa (bent, middle) being assisted by the MCE, Mr. Kwabena Nkansah - Asare (right) and Nana Dr. Boni Abankro (in cap, left) to cut the sod for the commencement of the project while some chiefs, officials of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and elated traders look on

4 Akyem Kotoku traditional leaders build road

Dec - 05 - 2014 , 01:17 2 minutes read

Four traditional rulers in the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area led by the paramount queen- mother, Nana Akua Asantewaa III are rehabilating two kilometres of the deplorable roads at Akyem Oda, capital of the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region.

The other chiefs are Obrempon Gyamfi Saforo Kyereh, the Krontihene and regent of Akyem Kotoku, Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu III, chief of Akyem Anyinase and former Member of the Council of State, and Nana Boni Abankro, Akyem Aduasenahene.

Nana Asantewaa alone is bearing 40 per cent of the estimated GH¢600.00 project which involves the resurfacing of the roads while the rest of the money comes from the accumulated royalties of the traditional council and personal contributions by the three other chiefs.

Nana Boni Abankro, a professional road contractor whose company, Tops Construction, is undertaking the project, has provided machinery and equipment free of charge for the project.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony at Oda last Tuesday for the commencement of the project, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Kwabena Nkansah-Asare, commended the traditional rulers, especially Nana Asantewaa, for their initiative and commitment to the development of the traditional area and urged other prominent citizens in the area to emulate their example.

He said no sooner had he assumed duty as the MCE in September 2014 than he approached the traditional rulers in the area to supplement the efforts of the government to develop the municipality and their first response had been the road rehabilitation at Oda. Mr Nkansah-Asare advised traders along the roads under rehabilitation to cooperate with the contractor and his staff to ensure the early completion of the project.

Nana Asantewaa advised Akyem Kotoku citizens both at home and abroad to bury their differences and make meaningful contributions towards the uplift of Oda in particular and the various communities in general to make them a better place for all.

She stressed that the long-standing chieftaincy dispute which had divided the people and hindered the progress of the traditional area for years, should be a thing of the past.

According to Nana Asantewaa, the huge sums of money spent in the courts and other unproductive ventures could be utilised for the development of the area for the benefit of present and future generations.

She promised to use part of the traditional council’s accumulated royalties and proceeds from land sales to launch an education endowment fund to sponsor brilliant, needy students from the area for them to contribute their quota towards the rebuilding of Akyem Kotoku.

Nana Asantewaa cautioned that after the road rehabilitation, traders would be banned from carrying out their trading activities on the roads to reduce congestions.