Mrs Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs says the government remains dedicated to engaging traditional authorities in development processes.
She said as the embodiment of the people, the role of chiefs and queens in accelerated progressive national development remained unparalleled, saying effective collaboration was required between the government and traditional authorities to advance development.
Mrs Sowah gave the assurance when speaking at the coronation of Oheneba Kwame Baffoe IV and Nana Yaa Sarpomaa III, the Paramount Chief and Paramount Queen-mother of the Nkoranza Traditional Area in the Bono East Region respectively.
The event was on the theme: “Celebrating one year of peace and harmony: Setting the Pace for the Launch of the Nkoranzaman Progressive Forum and Homecoming”.
Mrs Sowah emphasised that the chieftaincy institution remained one of the pillars of national identity, acknowledging the role of chiefs and queens in deepening governance, peace building and community development.
She noted that traditional authorities remained key partners in conflict resolutions, community mobilizations, cultural preservations, and local economic development.
“Nkoranza is one of the ancient and respected traditional towns in Ghana”, she stated, testifying about its immeasurable contributions to national economic progress.
She said Nkoranza remained a center of trade, agriculture, and cultural heritage and highlighted the significant role of the area in regional cohesion and traditional governance which was a symbol of resilience, unity and cultural pride.
Mrs Sowah urged the NKoranza people to remain formidable and deepened the prevailing peace of the area for development purposes, asking them to mobilize resources from citizens, home and abroad to push sustainable development.
Oheneba Baffoe IV, the Paramount Chief pledged his commitment to strengthen the prevailing peace of the area and also mobilize the people to bring the development of the area to the next level.
He said his vision was to empower the communities in building a future defined by opportunity, dignity, and pride.
Oheneba Baffoe IV noted that the Nkoranza was blessed with fertile lands, resilient people, and abundant resources, urging the people to forge ahead in unity and transform those economic prospects into lasting prosperity.
“We will try and add value to what we produce like the cashew, maize, yam among others”, he stated, and called for investments.
He called on the government and investors to establish commercial farming and agro-processing industries for job creation and poverty reduction. Oheneba Baffoe IV pledged to also strengthen partnerships to improve quality healthcare and education.
GNA
