"Change, yes we can" -Okyehene

Okyehene advocates hard choices for development

Accra, June 16, GNA- Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has said there was the need for Ghanaian leaders to make hard choices in order for the country to realize the necessary change that would put it on the path of real development and prosperity. "We have more than enough resources and knowledge in this country to have made our people prosperous by now, but I am not too sure if we have the wisdom, the will and the courage to make the hard choices for change.

"But like Barack Obama, I believe that 'Change, yes we can,'" he said.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin II made these remarks at the launch of a book on 700 years of history of the Akyem Abuakwa State, on Friday in Accra. The 245-page colourful book, entitled the Royal Akyem Kingdom, Ghana, written and published by Arthur Kwesi Amfoh Kwakyie, grandson of the Osagyefo Ofori Panin I, catalogues the business, leisure and educational opportunities that existed in the Akyem Abuakwa state. The book, written after seven years of research, also contains a roll call of past Kings of the Royal Akyem Kingdom and their separate contributions not only to that state but to Ghana as a whole. It did not leave out the rich contribution of the sons of the Akyem Abuakwa state to Ghana's politics and business.

Personalities like J. B. Danquah, William Ofori Atta, Edward Akufo-Addo and Ako Adjei, all members of the Ghana's famous big six and Dr. Ken Ofori Ata and Mr, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, who were recently voted the two most respected Chief Executive Officers in Ghana featured prominently therein.

Indeed Osagyefo Ofori Panin II himself the reigning king of the state featured prominently in the book for his nine years of tangible developmental contribution to the state in the areas of environment, education and health.

The Okyenhene noted that there were many attitudes, lifestyles and traditions, which were hailed as untouchable ancestral legacies but which were indeed impediments to the people's health, productivity and development.

"We need to gather the courage to change some of those so-called ancestral legacies and embrace science and technology which offer enormous opportunities for us to live healthier, more productive and prosperous lives."

He said in making the hard choices now, the present generation should realize that "it is not about us but about our children and the future of our dear country".

Osagyefo Ofori Panin said the future well-being of generations yet unborn largely depended on the systems that the present generation would put in place.

He called on politicians and political parties gunning for the presidency and seat of government to exercise restraint in their campaigns to ensure that the country remained peaceful after the 2008 Election.

"President John Agyekum Kufuor will be 70 years very soon after he leaves office and I believe the best 70th birthday gift we can give him is to present him with a peaceful country after the 2008 Election," he said.

The Okyenhene called on other kingdoms in the country to also document their history in detail for the benefit of both the present and future generations.

Even though President Kufuor, guest of honour for the book launch, was originally not billed to speak, the audience urged him to do so and he praised the author and Okyenhene for a good work saying the book was a worthy cause that promised to be the beginning of the restoration of the lost civilization of the Akan state.

President Kufuor said all the seven Akan states were one people with one history but "we lost our civilization due to division and the failure of our forefathers to properly document our history". He alluded to the colour of Ghanaian kente cloth and noted that the Akyem Kingdom was only one string in the kente cloth, which needed all their other strings to shine in order to weave the beautiful kente cloth called Ghana.

President Kufuor, therefore, called on all the other states in the country to emulate example of the Royal Akyem state and properly document their history for the benefit of posterity. Touching on the need for courage and wisdom for change, President Kufuor said: "We have the wisdom to change for the better, but what we need is enough fellow feeling that would make us want to do things for the betterment of all and not only for ourselves."

He said amidst global oil and food crisis, Ghana was at an advantage with the recent oil discovery in commercial quantities. President Kufuor said "If this does not encourage us as a people to want to live for our country then I don't know what else will." Dr. Mensah Otabil, Chancellor of Central University College, who launched the book, said it should encourage other states in the country to do the same, adding that chieftaincy should not be an institution for people to occupy stools but an opportunity for them to bring tangible development to the country.

Professor Alex Kwapong, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, who presided over the event, said modern chieftaincy demanded that the occupants of the throne did more than just occupying it but they should lead the people to prosperity.

He said the Okyenhene and the present Agbogbomefia of the Asogli state in the Volta Region were shinning examples of that. Several offers were made for the first few copies of the book during an auction, but Dr. Ken Ofori Ata of Databank topped them all with a 10,000 Ghana cedis purchase, followed by another high official of Databank, Kelly Gadzekpo with 5,000 Ghana cedis.

Those in attendance included the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Chief Justice Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood, members of the Council of State, ministers of state and parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps as well as traditional rulers and the clergy.