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Nana Afrakoma II, empowering needy young women with employable skills
Nana Afrakoma II
Dreams do come true and it is even more fulfilling and gratifying when the reality of the dream impacts lives positively.
That is the case of Nana Afrakoma II, Queen Mother of Akwamu Traditional Area, who has served her people in this capacity since 1964.
She was only 18 when the huge crown of Queen Mother of the revered ‘Akwamu State’ in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region was placed on her head.
It was a huge responsibility which the young Queen Mother took while looking out for opportunities to realise her dream of empowering needy young people in the area through skills development and training.
In pursuance of her dream after 59 years of various strides, Nana Afrakoma II, through the Ohemea Afrakoma II Foundation, established a vocational training centre to provide educational space for the people.
The Nana Afrakoma II Vocational Training Institute, officially opened in 2021, is targeted at providing employable skills to the needy young people, especially women, in the area.
The skills being tutored at the Institute range from hairdressing to fashion and beads making.
The Institute currently has a student population of 30, with the first batch scheduled for graduation on November 25 this year.
In an interview with The Spectator, Nana Afrakoma II said the Institute was also established with the intents to tackle the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in the area.
The consequence of rising cases of teenage pregnancy in the area, she explained, was a corresponding increase in school dropouts, hence the decision to train the beneficiaries to be able to care for their wards.
“Our interest now is providing young men and women who had dropped out of school due to pregnancy with employable skills and a means to improve their livelihood.
We have, within the past two years, enrolled 30 students in the Institute at no cost. The 12 who have completed the training would be graduating on November 25,” Nana Afrakoma II noted.
She said although the Institute was initially established for the indigenes of Akwamu, it was currently providing skills training to young people from the whole of the Asuogyaman District, including Senchi, Atimpoku and other neighbouring communities.
In addition to the training, she noted, the graduates are supported with start-up capital to enable them commence their business operations.
“We don’t want to train and leave them to their fate. We want to see them flourish and able to care for themselves and their offsprings.
For those in fashion, we will give them sewing machines while those who trained in hairdressing will be supported with hair dryers. Those in beads making will also receive support to be able to start their business,” Nana Afrakoma II said.
Although free for the students, she said, the running of the Institute had come at a huge financial cost to the Paramountcy, which has continuously provided financial support, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), also deploying its resources to help the Institute meet it objectives, the Asuogyaman District Assembly and other voluntary donors.
“We are grateful to the Akwamu Paramountcy for the continuous support as well as the UNFPA which has taken a genuine interest in what we do here.
The Assembly has also donated a four-classroom block to be used as one of our training centres. So yes, despite the financial burden, the support from everyone, including voluntary donors, has made it possible for the school’s survival,” Nana Afrakoma II added.
She said in addition to providing the young people with training on employable skills, sensitisation on the dangers of teenage pregnancy has been heightened to prevent others from going through similar experiences.
The Queen Mother called for increased support to enable the Institute develop its 30-acre land to be able to expand and admit more young people who hold an interest in pursuing any of the skills development programmes.
By Claude Nyarko Adams
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
