Pakro outdoors Nkosuohene, Ankobeahemea

Hundreds of people, including politicians, business executives and the media fraternity, thronged Pakro, a community near Nsawam in the Eastern Region, last Saturday to witness the outdooring of Mr Ransford Tetteh, the acting Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), as the Nkosuohene (Development Chief) and Nana Akosua Asabea, a businesswoman, as the Ankobeahemea for the town.

Mr Ransford Tetteh’s stool name is Nana Kwaku Dei.

The enstoolment of the two influential personalities is aimed at advancing development for the community sited not too far from Nsawam, but which faces neglect in the areas of road infrastructure, education and health.

Personalities who attended the colourful ceremony that was laced with cultural display included the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, who represented the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye; the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; the Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, and the Member of Parliament for Akuapim South, Mr O.B. Amoah.

The dignitaries supported a fundraising exercise organised by the newly installed traditional rulers in aid of an ICT centre/Library for schoolchildren at Pakro.

It was launched by the Vice-President of the International Advertising Association and the Chief Executive Officer of Lowe Lintas, Mrs Norko Dua.

The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) and chairman for the occasion was Nana Kwasi Gyan-Appenteng.

Nana Kwesi Gyan-Appenteng, who is also the President of the Ghana Association of Writers, pledged to support the yet to be built library with 500 books every year for five years.

Pakrohene

The Chief of Pakro, Nana Mensah Kuma III, appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads leading to the community to improve on the socio-economic fortunes of the people.

He said the community was also in a dire need of a police station to enhance security, a nurses quarters and classroom blocks.

Speaker of Parliament rep

Mr Osei-Owusu, who represented the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, commended members of the community for their contribution to national development.

He reiterated the rationale for the introduction of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy and explained that the progress of every society was through education.

He called on all parents to participate actively in the education of their children and help reverse rising negative trends which had the tendency of affecting the development of children, especially girls.

He observed that the manner in which girls were brought up sometimes eroded their confidence such that they were unable to take up leadership roles and cited women representation in Parliament, which is very low.

Mr Osei-Owusu commended the decision of the people to install a development chief and pledged the support of government for the success of some outlined projects.

Nkosuohene

Addressing his people for the first time as the Nkosuohene, Nana Dei, who was not only born in Pakro but also received his basic education in a dilapidated structure in the community, promised to do his best to improve the lot of his people.

He described the road from Adawso to Pakro and Nsawam to Pakro as deplorable and appealed to the government to rehabilitate it.
"We need a lot of development projects. I will do my best," he assured.

Nana Dei expressed regret over the collapse of the railway system, which he said brought enormous economic benefits to people in the past.

He called on the Minister for Railways Development, Mr Joe Ghartey, to consider Pakro in the government railway development agenda.

He also expressed his appreciation to all those who turned out to support the ceremony.

Nana Dei gained admission to the St Thomas Aquinas Senior High School after successfully completing his basic education at the local Roman Catholic Middle School at Pakro.

Ankobeahemea

Nana Akosua Asabea, the Ankobeahemea, who also attended basic school at Pakro, ascends the stool with a determination to halt teenage dropout in the community and help the youth to remain in school until they had acquired employable skills.

She has accordingly warned parents and guardians in the community who fail to honour their responsibilities towards their children and wards to change forthwith.

Nana Asabea says she will use her resourcefulness to rally her people for development.

About Pakro

Pakro is a farming community in the Akuapim South District in the Eastern Region.

Crops mainly cultivated by the farmers are maize, cocoa, cassava, okro and peppers.

The community has a health post.

Pakro was founded in 1888.