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Asantehene marks Akwasidae in Maryland …a scene of great picturesqueness and grandeur
His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene last Sunday celebrated Akwasidae with some of his chiefs and elders, together with many US-based Ghanaians, particularly members of the Asanteman Association in the US, at his residence in Maryland, United States of America (USA).
Speaking at a ceremony of great picturesqueness and grandeur, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stressed the need for Ghanaians in the diaspora to trace their roots by exhibiting and living in accordance with the dictates of their traditions and cultural beliefs.
Clad in a beautiful blue and white decorated and designed kente cloth, the revered King expressed his profound gratitude to all the invitees for joining him to celebrate the Akwasidae in grand style.
“I am happy to see my people in such a great mood today of dancing the traditional Adowa, and this demonstrates the fact that you haven’t forgotten your history, and most importantly, our well-celebrated tradition and culture, ” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said.
The occupant of the Golden Stool advised his subjects who live in the diaspora, particularly those in the USA to be law abiding in whatever they did at their various places of work and residence, adding that “you should not do anything negative to drag the name of Ghana and Asanteman into the mud.”
He entreated all Ghanaians in the diaspora to uphold the great traditions and endowed cultural beliefs of their respective origins.
He advised the elderly and all parents to counsel their wards to embrace the most respected Ghanaian culture and traditions while they still live abroad.
The Akwasidae is celebrated by chiefs and people in Ashanti as well as Asantes in the diaspora. The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks.
Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Pobee, former Ghana’s Ambassador to the UN, His Excellency, Mr. Kobee Komoson, former US Ambassador to Ghana, Aisha Braveboy, State Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the USA, Her Excellency, Hajia Alima Mahama, were there to grace the occasion.
Oheneba Boachie Agyei Woahene II, Nana Osei Kwadwo (Mamesenhene), Nana Otimpie Aben (Otumfuo’s Saasamohene), Nana Yaw Atta Kyeremanteng (Bebrehene), Nana Gyedu Kumaning Amakye (Barehene), Nana Yaa Asantewaa (Paramount Queenmother of Ejisu Traditional Area), Nana Ama Afrakoma, Queenmother of Agogo Traditional Area and some dignitaries from the royal family were there in their numbers to showcase the tradition and culture of Asanteman.
Earlier, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had urged the members of Asanteman Association of New York to live in peace and unity, respect one another, and work for the progress and interest of the association.
He noted that there was no Asantefuohene (chief) in New York and called on the association to hold elections within three months to elect a new chief, queenmother and other officers of the Asanteman Association, and work in harmony to bring peace.
From Prince Osei Bonsu, Maryland, USA
The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has expressed concern over delays in the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund, warning that the situation is stalling development across the country.
On his facebook page, he described as a matter of urgent national importance, the Minority Chief Whip pointed to what he sees as a growing crisis of unpaid contractors, abandoned projects, and halted infrastructure works in many districts.
He noted that several communities are grappling with half completed schools, unfinished health facilities, abandoned markets, deteriorating roads, and stalled sanitation projects.
According to him, many contractors who have executed projects for district assemblies have not been paid, forcing some construction firms to demobilise from sites while workers lose their jobs.
He stressed that the District Assemblies Common Fund is not a discretionary allocation but a constitutional requirement under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, intended to support development at the local level.
In his view, years of delayed releases and accumulated arrears have weakened district development financing and disrupted projects meant to improve living conditions in communities.
He further argued that some payments made in recent years were largely the settlement of old debts rather than funding for new or ongoing projects, a situation he believes has affected contractor confidence and local economic activity.
He described the issue as more than a budgetary challenge, characterising it as a development emergency and a governance concern.
He therefore urged the appropriate authorities to pay outstanding DACF arrears, settle contractors who have completed their work, and ensure that transfers to districts are automatic and predictable.
He maintained that decentralisation can only succeed when district assemblies receive adequate and timely funding to carry out development projects.
He emphasised that stalled projects directly affect ordinary citizens, since they rely on such infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, sanitation, and economic activities.
He called for renewed attention to grassroots development, insisting that national progress should not be concentrated only in major cities but extended to all communities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Richard Appiah, the footballer who killed two children and stored part of their bodies in a fridge at Abesim in the Bono Region in 2021 has been handed a lifetime sentence.
This was after a five member panel of judges at the Accra High Court returned a verdict of guilty against the convict.
Appiah, 32, also a draughtsman would spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of murder.
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BY MALIK SULLEMANA
