The Chiefs and people of New Edubiase in the Adansi South District have observed the 10th Anniversary of the enstoolment of Nana Akua Dwum II as the Queenmother of Edubiase.
The theme for the Anniversary celebration was: “The Role of the Contemporary Queenmother.”
The Anniversary Durbar was presided over by Nana Nkansah Boadu Ayeboafo, Chief of Agric Nzema in Kumasi.
Nana Akua Dwum II, known in private life as Vida Ansah, was enstooled Queenmother of the area on May 30, 2010 to succeed the late Nana Ama Nyakoma.
She has been described by many as a transformational leader who had chalked remarkable achievements, including lobbying for the construction of access roads within the New Edubiase township, spearheading adolescent sexuality and female empowerment in the Adansi South Districts in her capacity as a leading facilitator.
Nana Akua Dwum II’s achievements cut across social, economic, technology, education, infrastructure, health and agriculture among others.
Addressing the durbar to climax the Anniversary celebration, the Queenmother bemoaned the recent attacks on traditional leaders by a section of Ghanaians out of disrespect for the traditional authorities in the country due to ignorance of their roles.
The Queenmother indicated that traditional leadership would not look on unconcerned and allow some people to denigrate Asantehene and the Asanteman Council, adding that the chieftaincy institution had long existed before political partisanship came about.
Nana Akua Dwum II admonished Ghanaians to be circumspect in discussing issues that border on chieftaincy, especially the Asantehene.
Nana Guahyia Oduro Panin Birikorang, Edubiasehene on his part stated emphatically that the chiefs and people of Edubiase in the Adansi South District would not entertain illegal mining activities in the jurisdiction.
He stated that the practice has affected Obuasi mines and township negatively as a result of which the people of Adansi have suffered from the destruction of water bodies in the process.
He stated that the country was still struggling to deal with the menace of illegal mining in spite of the declaration of war against it by the President since 2017.
He stated that the persistence of the illegal miners forced the government to procure five new speed boats for use by the security services to patrol and protect the country’s rivers as part of measures to stem their devastating activities.
According to Nana Guahyia Oduro, the fight had, however, not been entirely successful, since the water bodies and forest reserves continued to be destroyed by illegal mining activities.
He underscored that since the people of Edubiase had not benefited from mining activities on their lands over the years, they could not superintend over the destruction of their water bodies as a result of illegal mining activities, and stressed that they would do everything possible to protect and preserve their lands from illegal mining activities.
He bemoaned the wrong accusation of nananom for increased mining activities even thought they do not issue permit for mining activities.
Nana Guahyia has, therefore, appealed to the government to bring development to Edubiase as their fair share of the national cake.
Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, explained that queenmothers played vital roles in the Ghanaian traditional and political systems.
He emphasised that queenmothers played advisory roles and were always at the forefront of development, pointing to traits of the charismatic and transformational leadership of Nana Akua Dwum since her enstoolment.
He commended the queen mother’s role in protecting the environment and spearheading developmental projects in her traditional area.
The Minister gave the assurance that the government had not let her guard down in the fight against the illegal mining menace in the Ashanti Region, hinting that new ways of fighting the canker had been discovered, and that he was convinced that they would soon yield positive results.
Present to grace the occasion were nananom, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Assembly members, heads of institutions and other state agencies.
