Omanhen advocates the abolishment of unit committees

Okatakyi Dr Amamfi VII, Omanhen of Asebu on Saturday advocated the abolishment of unit committees for the focus to be on the empowerment of traditional authorities to mobilise people at the grassroots for development.

He said traditional rulers have the experience, authority and the mandate to lead their people and to mobilise resources for development.

Okatakyi Amamfi who is also the Vice President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs said this at a durbar to climax this year’s Apayamkese festival at Asebu in the Abura-Asebu- Kwamankese District (AAK), on the theme: “Celebrating Our Culture for Development.”

Apayamkese festival is celebrated annually to give thanks to God for his protection and good harvest, to remember the dead, forge reconciliation and to purge the revelers to usher in the coming year.

The Omanhen, who is the President of Asebu Traditional Council, noted that a careful study of the decentralisation concept shows that the process had failed to carry the people alone.

He explained that the situation had arisen because the district assemblies have sidelined the chieftaincy institution in the mobilisation of resources for self-help activities.

Okatakyi Amanfi said the area has poor road network, explaining that apart from the main Cape Coast –Kumasi road that passes through Asebu, which is tarred the Amosima-Asebu- Putubiw and Amosima-Anknom-Kobinasah as well as Asebu to Birimso water works are in bad shape.

He expressed concern that basic schools in the area continue to perform poorly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and as a result they fail to get placement in senior high schools (SHS).

“For instance the best student from the area scored aggregate 14 in the last BECE”, he said.

Okatakyi Amamfi reminded the government of its promise to provide the Moree community with a fish landing beach and cold store facilities to create more jobs for the youth.

He appealed to the Ministry of health to upgrade the Asebu and Amosima CHPS Compounds to the status of health centres.

He said apart from the numerous problems facing the area , the traditional council in collaboration with some philanthropists has established the Asebuman SHS at Amosima, which was inaugurated in September with its first batch of 12 students.

He said the traditional area has also renovated the old post office building which would be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for the establishment of a police post at Amantendo.

Mr John Alexander Ackon Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs commended the traditional area for making education a priority.

Mr Arthur Mends, District Chief Executive of AAK said since 2011 the assembly has executed 65 development projects out of which 21 are located in the Asebu traditional area.

He said 13 new projects are at the tender stage, while work would begin on the construction of a Community Police Training School.

Mrs Grace Adu-Appiah AAK District Director of Education, Dr Henry Seidu Danaa Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affair and Nana Kwaw Paintsil Ansah Chief Executive Office of TV Africa were honoured for their contributions to education and development of the area. They were each presented with citation of honour.