AKUAPEM KRONTI MARKS ODWIRA

THE chiefs and people of the Kronti Division of Akuapem on Saturday celebrated their Ghana@50 Kronti Odwira Festival with a grand durbar at Akropong, during which the Krontihene, Osahene Offei Kwasi Agyeman VI, called on the people to exhibit a high sense of commitment to the development of the area.

“Giving back to the community should be the concern of everyone and so we must pause once a while to consider what we have done to benefit the whole society, considering the benefits we have derived from our community,” Osahene Agyeman stated.

The event, which was used to honour some people who had contributed significantly to the development of the area, was nearly disrupted by a heavy downpour.

It was attended by people from all walks of life, including dignitaries such as the Chief Advisor to the President, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, who represented President John Agyeman Kufuor; Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group; Mr. William Ofori Boafo, the Deputy Minister of Defence, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akropong, and Mr. Edward Adu Aboagye, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Akuapem North.

Prominent chiefs who also graced the occasion included the Paramount Chief of Hohoe, Togbui Gabusu VI, who is also the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, and the Gyasehene of Bantama, Nana Opoku Apeaning, who represented the Bantamahene, Nana Amankwatia.

According to the Osahene, to ensure the rapid socio-economic development of the Akuapem Traditional Area, the people must do away with selfishness, greed and pride and unite for the development of the area.

“My prayer for everyone this year is our God to give us wisdom and strength so that we do away with selfishness, greed and pride and contribute our quota to the development of the society,” Osahene Agyeman stated.

The Krontihene, who highlighted some of the significant achievements in the area over the years, said on education, scholarships had been awarded to a number of needy, bright children to pursue their education, adding that a scholarship fund established since 1999 had on the average dispensed 26 million Euros per year in that respect, while an additional 200 million Euros was expected to be spent on 850 pupils this year.

He added that the Kronti Division had also collaborated with its development partners, including the Help4Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO). To establish a computer learning centre for the youth of the area and its surrounding communities.

The Akropong School for the Blind, as well as some of the basic schools in the area, had also been supplied with over 350 computers and 400 monitors, as well as accessories, he said.

With regard to good drinking water, he said the division, with assistance from the Rotary Club, the Akuapem North District Assembly and the people, had constructed the Adami Water Project to address the acute water shortage in the communities and schools in the area.

For his part, Togbui Gabusu was happy about the cordial relationship between the people of Akuapem and Hohoe, which he said had united the two areas to live in peace.

            Daily Graphic                           Tuesday, October 16, 2007                  Page:    24 - 25