Okyenhene calls govt attention to state of roads
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin, says the government must urgently mobilise resources to construct the deplorable roads in the Eastern Region.
He said, the chiefs in the region had agreed to construct the affected roads and build toll booths to levy drivers who ply the road.
When that was done, he said, the region would be able to generate funds to support other social amenities and developmental projects.
The Okyenhene was addressing a gathering of Chiefs through his lawyer, Mr Kwame Boateng, at the second Okyeman Congress held at the Bunso Cocoa College in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region last Sunday.
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Background to congress
The first congress was held in 1977 under the reign of Osagyefo Kuntunkununku.
Its purpose was to gather all the citizens of Akyem, both in Ghana and in the Diaspora, to discuss the future of Okyeman
The second congress follows a caucus meeting held by the chiefs to point out issues affecting the Akyem communities.
These included issues related to agriculture, education, infrastructural development, and environmental sanitation.
It was held on the theme, “Assisting the Traditional Council in Promoting Sustainable Development in Okyeman”.
In attendance were the Paramount chiefs of the Okyeman Traditional Area of Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku and Akyem Bosome.
Others were the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa West, Mr Amoako Atta, MP for Fanteakwa South, Mr Okyere Agyeman, and Nana Akomea, former MP and native of Akyem- Nsutam.
Professionals of Akyem decent including doctors, engineers, lawyers and judges were also in attendance.
Inspection of Roads
The Okyehene who is also the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, described as sad the numerous calls made to the President John Mahama as well as other previous governments on reconstruction of the deplorable roads had yielded no result.
He said some months ago, he received complaints from the sub-chiefs concerning the bad roads in the region.
Following their grievances, he led some of the traditional rulers in the region to embark on a day’s inspection tour of the major deplorable roads in the region.
He, therefore, urged citizens of Akyem to rise up and fight for their rights since successive governments had failed to hear their cries, despite numerous appeals he had personally made to successive Presidents of the country.
The Okyenhene further advised his sub-chiefs to promote the development of the people and avoid extravagant lifestyles.
Mismanagement of Natural Resources
The Okyenhene expressed dissatisfaction with what he said was the mismanagement of the country’s natural resources, and called on President Mahama, to ensure that there was proper exploitation of the country’s natural resources to benefit all Ghanaians.
