E/R:Akyem Old Tafo Chiefs Celebrate Ohum Festival To Foster Unity And Development

The Chief of Akyem Old Tafo in the Abuakwa North of the Eastern region, Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV has reiterated his commitment to help supervise developmental projects in his enclaves.

Thus, he has called on his sub-chiefs and the community folks to put much effort towards achieving his aspirations.

Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV made the call during his address at a durbar to mark this year’s Ohum Kan Festival on the theme, “Homecoming To Foster Unity And Development” on Saturday, 8th July 2023 at Akyem Tafo.

Ohum is purposely celebrated to usher in a new yam and give thanks to God the Almighty, the Ancestors and gods of the land for protection and provision of the abundance of new yam.

The chief of Akyem Tafo speaking to Afeema FM’s journalist Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, called on the minister for Roads and Highways and the government to fix roads in the area which are in deplorable states.

Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV who expressed his dismay about the deplorable state of the roads said businesses had been affected due to the poor nature of the roads.

Aside from the collapse of businesses, the poor nature of the roads, most of them dusty and muddy during the rainy season, were giving residents many health problems, including chest infections and their goods being covered with dust.

The chief told Kaakyire Kwasi Afari that, the contractor for the road construction has abandoned the site and upon several appeals and personal engagements with the road minister, hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta’s to call the contractor back to the site to complete the project has yielded no results.

The paramount chief of Akyem Old Tafo again bemoaned the devastating state of patients at the Tafo hospital due to its limited capacity to accommodate people who visit the facility for treatment.

This is because, the facility has run out of beds due to inadequate spaces in the wards and theatre rooms adding that, the facility has been overwhelmed by a recent surge in cases of contagious disease and other health issues forcing nurses to admit more patients on a bed, while others are managed on mats at open spaces within the facility.

He blamed the government for relocating the “Agenda 111” hospital project meant for Akyem Old Tafo to another district at their blind side.

On Education, Osabarima Adusei Peasah stated that the people of Akyem Tafo are very grateful to President Akufo Addo for implementing free education but the SHS in Tafo needs more facilities because the available classrooms are not enough for the students.

He said, it’s disgusting to note that the students at the Akyem Tafo Senior High School “are packed like Sardines” due to the increasing enrollment rate thus, he has called on the government to expand the facility to reduce congestion.

For her part, the Kyidomhene of Akyem Tafo, Nana Adepa Amponsah Yeboah l tasked the Ministry of Tourism to make Akyem Tafo a tourist hub to attract visitors all year round to the Akyem Abuakwa district.

This is expected to aid in the creation of job opportunities and improve the socio-economic well-being of the people of Akyem Tafo.

Under the agenda, the Chief said, they have identified an Ancient Tree in Tafo as a tourist potential site with compelling historical backgrounds to be harnessed and developed into modern tourist destinations.

Addressing the dignitaries to highlight the purpose of the gathering, Nana Adepa Amponsah Yeboah called on their members of Parliament and the District Assembly to construct the new phase of the Tafo market to enhance trading and their livelihood.

She told Kaakyire Kwasi Afari that the chiefs and the executive members of the market had made several follow-ups to the Assembly to persuade them to build the new market but to no avail.

Nana Adepa Amponsah Yeboah said market women’s wares were always at the mercy of the weather since there was no proper place to keep them.

Kyidomhene Nana Adepa Amponsah Yeboah I again used the opportunity to seek support for the completion of the Akyem Old Tafo community centre.

The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of TVET who doubles as a member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, Mrs. Gifty Twum-Ampofo who represented the Vice President as a special guest, congratulated the chiefs for celebrating this year’s Ohum Kan festival amidst colourful cultural display.

The deputy minister however stressed that the Free TVET Education is to make the youth of the country globally competitive thus she has called on the chiefs and parents to prioritize their wards’ education on TVET since it alleviates poverty and reduces unemployment by providing students with the needed tools and skills to enhance their lives.

Hon Gifty Twum Ampofo responding to a request made by Nana Adepa Amponsah Yeboah seeking aid for the completion of the Akyem Tafo Community Centre, promise to furnish the facility with the requisite equipment which part of the edifice will be used for a vocational training school in the area.

By Kaakyire Kwasi Afari, Afeema /uniquenewsgh.com