The traditional authority of Badukrom-Kokwado in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District of the Central Region has enstooled Mrs Gloria Alija, an employee of Gold Fields Ghana Limited in Tarkwa, as the Mpuntuhemaa (Development Queen Mother).
She is to spearhead development in the agrarian community.
Installed under the stool name Nana Aba Kum I, the new queen mother is envisioned to champion various transformational initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of residents through education, skills development, and access to social amenities, among others.
At a colourful coronation ceremony, Nana Kum was carried in a palanquin and paraded through the community before she was taken to the durbar grounds to take an oath in the presence of the chiefs and people, to faithfully commit to her new role and mandate.
For a start, she commissioned a mechanised borehole with a 1,000-litre reservoir to provide residents with clean and safe drinking water during her coronation.
She also launched the Nana Aba Kum Foundation, an initiative dedicated to supporting education, providing vocational skills training to the youth and providing livelihood support to the less privileged in society.
The Foundation immediately launched a fundraising campaign towards the construction of an ultra-modern basic school with ICT facilities for the community, a project the people had requested for ages.
Nana Kum outlined her vision to transform the community by mobilising support from the government, corporate organisations, NGOs and benevolent individuals, to undertake critical development projects.
She noted that land had already been secured for the proposed school project, adding that the community had many brilliant children whose potential could be unlocked through quality education and skills training.
“I am here purposely for the development of this community. I cannot do it alone and will need everybody’s support. Let us work together in unity, love and peace,” she appealed.
Nana Kum appealed to NGOs, Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Member of Parliament and Finance Minister, the Ajumako District Chief Executive (DCE), corporate bodies and other development partners to support the community’s development agenda.
Nana Kum, who works as the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of Badukrom-Kokwadom for the confidence reposed in her and promised to serve diligently.
Nana Blay XI, the Ankernyinhen of Ahanta West who graced the occasion, expressed confidence in the abilities of the newly installed queen mother, saying she possessed the competence and commitment needed to deliver on her mandate.
Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII, the Paramount Chief of Abeadze Traditional Area, urged residents to rally behind the queen mother, stressing that meaningful development could only be achieved through collective effort.
Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi who is also the Board Chairman of the Water Resources Commission of Ghana, said although Nana Kum had demonstrated commitment to the community’s progress, it would require the cooperation and support of all stakeholders to succeed.
A representative of Odeefo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, impressed upon the people of Badukrom-Kokwado to offer the queen mother the necessary support and prayers to enable her to fulfil her development agenda.
Mr Michael Essilfie Nelson, the Tema Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Chairman of the occasion, noted that every community required sustainable development to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people.
He explained that it was the reason all stakeholders wholeheartedly supported the mechanised borehole project to provide the community with a reliable source of potable water.
Mr Nelson observed that the enormous responsibility given to Nana Aba Kum as Development Queen Mother required the collective support of all stakeholders to enable her to implement her vision for the community.
He, therefore, appealed to individuals, corporate bodies and development partners to rally behind her development agenda.
Mr Nelson also commended Nana Kum for launching the foundation to mobilise resources to advance her development initiatives and improve the welfare of the people.
