Asesewa Divisional festival highlights unity, development concerns in Upper Manya Krobo

The Asesewa Division of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area has celebrated its annual divisional festival at Asesewa in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region, with calls for greater unity and accelerated development in the area. The celebration, which forms part of activities leading up to the annual Ngmayem Festival of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, brought together traditional leaders, political authorities, residents and other stakeholders to celebrate the heritage of the people and deliberate on development challenges confronting the division. The event was led by the Divisional Chief of Asesewa, Nene Ofei Tagbaja I, the first Divisional Chief of the Asesewa Division, who was outdoored in January 2025. Among those present were the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismarck Tetteh Nyarko, District Chief Executive for Upper Manya Krobo, Emmanuel Kwesi Lawer, staff of the Upper Manya Krobo District Assembly, Nene Agbom Narh, the Divisional Chief of Djebiam, as well as other chiefs, queen mothers, market women and residents. The festival featured cultural activities and community gatherings aimed at strengthening unity among residents and mobilising support for the development of the division. Chief raises concerns over roads, electricity Nene Ofei Tagbaja I used the occasion to appeal to the government to address what he described as critical development challenges in the Asesewa area. He said several roads linking communities within the division remained in deplorable condition, while some rural communities continued to lack access to electricity. “You politicians often promised to fix our roads, but they're still in a deplorable state,” he said. “Most of our critical roads are bad and most of our rural communities are still without electricity. Try and fix these challenges.” The chief also appealed for the completion of the dining hall project at Asesewa Senior High School, noting that although the MP and DCE were working to address the challenges surrounding the project, it remained one of the key concerns requiring urgent attention. He urged the authorities to prioritise the three areas — roads, electricity and the completion of the school’s dining hall — to improve living conditions and support economic activity in the area. Regional Minister promises road intervention The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, acknowledged the concerns raised by the chief and said the government recognised the importance of improved infrastructure to the development of Upper Manya Krobo. She commended the MP and DCE for what she described as their efforts in providing educational and health infrastructure in the district but stressed the need for improved roads to support economic activities. “Our DCE and MP are doing a lot. We have built a lot of schools and health facilities. Our roads need to be in good shape to grow our markets,” she said. The minister promised that the Department of Feeder Roads would undertake work on roads in Asesewa within the next year. She also disclosed that the government was aware of communities in Upper Manya Krobo without electricity and said she would work with the MP and DCE to engage the Minister for Energy on extending power to the affected communities. “I am aware there are 36 communities in Upper Manya Krobo without power. I am involving the DCE and MP in persuading the Energy Minister to ensure that power is extended,” she said. On the Asesewa SHS dining hall, the minister said plans were advanced to complete the project. She assured residents that the government remained committed to delivering on its promises and urged them to support the MP and DCE in their efforts to develop the district. The minister also disclosed that a number of young people from the area had been enlisted into the security services. MP calls for unity The Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismarck Tetteh Nyarko, described the divisional celebration as an important development in the traditional history of the area. He said the gathering provided an opportunity for the chief and people of the Asesewa Division to unite and prepare towards the grand festival scheduled to take place later in October. According to him, the Asesewa Division is one of the newer divisions within the Manya Krobo Traditional Area and the celebration offered an opportunity to strengthen its identity and coordinate development efforts. He said the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, which historically comprised six divisions, has expanded to include additional divisions, making unity among the various traditional authorities essential to the development of the area. Nyarko said the traditional authorities and political leadership must work together irrespective of their respective roles. “If we really want our people to benefit, then unity is the only way to go. We have no other option than to unite and be united,” he said. He called on residents to rally behind their traditional leaders and political authorities to accelerate development in Upper Manya Krobo. MP urges diaspora to support development The MP also appealed to sons and daughters of Upper Manya Krobo living abroad to return home and contribute to the development of the area. He said the district had historically lagged behind in development because it was previously administered under the former Manya Krobo District, whose capital was at Lower Manya Krobo. He noted that Upper Manya Krobo eventually became a separate district but still faced a development gap that required collective efforts to bridge. “We have been behind development for far too long and that is because of our political setting as we used to be under Lower Manya,” he said. He therefore urged residents to channel their energies into development rather than internal disagreements. The MP praised Nene Ofei Tagbaja I for his leadership qualities and expressed confidence that the chief could help consolidate unity within the Asesewa Division. He said political leadership would continue to collaborate with the traditional authorities to improve the welfare of residents. The Asesewa Divisional celebration forms part of activities towards the annual Ngmayem Festival, which brings together the various divisions and communities of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area to celebrate their heritage, strengthen social cohesion and discuss development priorities.Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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