Thousands of natives of the Akyem Abuakwa State, friends and well-wishers of the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, are expected to visit the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area between May 2024 and December 2024 to celebrate his 25th anniversary of accession to the Ofori Panin Stool.
The Okyenhene’s silver jubilee celebration is under the theme “25 Years of Sustainable Leadership and Service to Humanity.”
Addressing the media at a press launch of the 25th anniversary celebration in Kyebi, Okyeman Twafohene Okatakyie Boakye Danquah highlighted the achievements of Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin. He described him as a paragon of innovative traditional leadership with few rivals.
“Osagyefo took over when Okyeman and the Eastern Region faced many developmental challenges. Okyeman wore the unenviable tag of the poorest performance in the BECE despite significant public investment. This had its roots in growing social crisis of truancy, increased school dropout rates, the surge of teenage pregnancy, and the spread of HIV,” he indicated.
Advocacy
According to the Okyeman Twafohene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin launched a successful advocacy for increased funding, and rekindled parental involvement in children’s education.
“Today, the impressive strides we have made in terms of rapid reduction in school dropout rates, reduction in the incidence of teenage pregnancy and decrease in reported cases of HIV infections are a tribute to Osagyefuo’s exemplary leadership and advocacy,” Okatakyie Boakye Danquah said.
He added that under Osagyefuo’s leadership, 10 basic schools, christened the Amoatia Ofori Panin Model Schools, have been established in 10 locations within Okyeman to complement the government’s efforts in the education sector.
Okatakyie Boakye Danquah also noted that the University College of Agriculture, Environment and Science (UCAES) at Bonsu, established by Osagyefuo, is growing to become a first-class destination for agriculture and ecological studies despite earlier challenges.
Projects
He said the Okyenhene had initiated several projects and measures to combat climate change and global warming, adding that the Okyenhene is a world-acclaimed conservationist.
For his 25th anniversary celebration, the planning committee has outlined several events, including an initiative to plant one million trees as part of the Green Ghana Project on Monday, June 3, 2024.
There will be five durbars in all the five divisions in Okyeman: Adonten – Kukurantumi, Benkum – Begoro, Nifa – Asiakwa, Oseawuo – Wenkyi, Gyase – Kwaben, and the grand durbar at Kyebi on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
Also on the programme for the anniversary celebration are the 25th Anniversary Football Gala, Asona Reunion, Okyeman Congress and Awards Night, Okyeman Fun and Food Fair at the Kyebi Community Center, Golf Tournament, non-denominational birthday thanksgiving service, a mega musical concert at Kyebi in December 2024, and a children’s party.
