Awenade: A town without a chief, a community under Galamsey pressure

Residents of Awenade in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region have called for the urgent installation of a new chief, blaming the community’s leadership vacuum for persistent illegal mining activities and a lack of development.

The residents made the appeal during a community engagement with the town’s Queen Mother, Nana Ama Boatemaa, and other traditional leaders, where they expressed concern over the growing galamsey menace and what they described as the community’s development challenges.

According to the residents, the absence of a substantive chief has left the community struggling to address its pressing concerns, including illegal mining and the need for development.

They appealed to the queen mother, the kingmakers and other relevant stakeholders to expedite the process of selecting and installing a new chief to help restore traditional leadership and drive development in Awenade.

Responding to the concerns, Rev. Abayie, who spoke on behalf of Nana Ama Boatemaa, assured the residents that the kingmakers were committed to finding a successor and installing a new chief before the end of 2026.

The assurance comes amid growing calls from residents for decisive action to address the challenges confronting the community.

Kofi Owusu, the Abusuapanyin of the Awenade Agona Denkyira Royal Family, also assured residents that efforts would be made to secure a new chief as soon as possible.

The residents will now be looking to the traditional authorities to fulfil their assurances, as calls for a new chief grow alongside concerns about illegal mining and the pace of development in Awenade.

EA