Support Akuapem South Assembly — Aburihene
Otobuor Gyan Kwasi II, the Aburihene, has called on the government to rehabilitate the roads linking Aburi to Nsawam and other communities.
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He drew the government’s attention to the deplorable nature of the roads, citing the ones that link Aburi to Oyibi through Adamorobe; Kwabenya to Kitase through Berekuso, as well as the roads in Aburi township.
He made the call during the climax of this year’s Aburiman Odwira festival last Saturday.
Speaking on the theme for the occasion, “A disciplined community, a hub for sustainable development”, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi said Ghanaians needed to ensure discipline in every aspect of their lives in order to move the nation forward.
"Note that when the people living in a community are disciplined, they enjoy good health, and investors feel safe to do business, which leads to the creation of employment for the people,” he said.
He implored his chiefs, particularly the young ones, to not abuse their positions, explaining that it was their responsibility to always seek the interest of their people.
"Respect is won from good leadership and not imposed,” he stated.
Government response
A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who also spoke at the event, said the government shared in the difficulties of the Akuapem South District Assembly, which was created just about two years ago, and would do everything possible to help the assembly to grow.
He said the situation where some parents attacked their children’s teachers because they had punished them was unacceptable, adding that parents must not spare the rod to spoil their children, and that they must allow teachers to correct their children in school to ensure that they grew up to become responsible and disciplined adults.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, said the government had already engaged contractors to work on some of the bad roads in the area.
She appealed to the chiefs and people of Aburiman to be patient as the government rolled out its development programme for the community.
Durbar
The durbar, which was a colourful display of Ghanaian culture, brought hundreds of citizens of Aburiman, home and abroad, to the Aburi Gardens for stocktaking.
Earlier in the day, the Asafo group, made up of men and women from the Aburi community, arrived at the palace at about 11:30 a.m. amid singing and dancing.
The dignitaries, mostly sub-chiefs of the Adonten division of the Akuapem State, started arriving at the Aburihene's palace close to midday wearing beautiful kente, and adorned with 'varioius' ornaments, but it was the Aburihene, and Akuapem Adontenhene, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi, who stole the show, wearing gold ornaments befitting his status.
About eight of the sub-chiefs and the queenmother of Aburi and Akuapem Adonten, Awo Adwoa Amene I, joined the Aburihene in their palanquins to hold a colourful procession.
Background
The Odwira festival is celebrated by Akropong-Akuapem, Aburi, Larteh and Amanokrom in the Eastern Region.
It involves a week-long cultural events and rituals performed to purify the town, the people and, most importantly, the ancestral stools of the chiefs.
Aburi is under Adonten Division of Akuapem and Otobuor Gyan Kwasi is the head of the division.
