Wenchi Manhene, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III, has appealed to the NDC government to upgrade infrastructure of the Wenchi Agricultural College to meet modern agricultural training standards.
Speaking at Bono Regional Minister’s accountability durbar in Wenchi Calvary Methodist Church on July 31, Wenchi Manhene said the college has over the years produced skilled agriculturists but its facilities no longer meet current demands.
He told Kaakyire Kwasi Afari of Sunyani-based Ark fm that after the establishment of the school by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the college has not witnessed any infrastructure upgrade.
He also appealed to the government to ensure that all courses run by the institution are accredited, revealing that some courses currently being taught at the college lack accreditation, a situation he said puts students at risk of losing their academic progress.
Osagyefo also called on government to establish a nursing training college in Wenchi, adding that they are served by a private nursing training college, a situation he described as unacceptable.
However, the chief commended the government for providing Ghana Education Trust Fund, GETFund, infrastructure projects at Al-Faruq Islamic Teacher Training College and Wenchi Senior High School.
On sanitation, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Tabrako III said sanitation in his traditional area will be intensified to ensure Wenchi ranks among the cleanest municipalities in Bono and Ghana at large.
According to him, monthly clean-up exercises will be decentralized to every electoral area to help various assembly members monitor the excercise, while calling on residents to clean their frontages and hinted that new guidelines on sanitation will be issued in the coming days.
He added that sanitation by-laws will be strictly enforced to arrest and prosecute offenders.
The Wenchi manhene charged school heads and church leaders to ensure cleanliness in their schools and churches, warning that any school head who fails to comply with his sanitation directive will be suspended.
He cited Dormaa as a municipality that has made significant progress in sanitation and urged Wenchi to emulate it towards achieving total cleanliness by 2030.
Speaking on roads, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III said his traditional area has benefited from the government’s Big Push road project.
However, he expressed hope of benefiting from Big Push Phase II to construct the about 31km Buoku-Nkonsia road, part of Sunyani to Wenchi busy road.
He expressed dismay that all Big Push road contractors in the Bono Region and the middle sector of the country sourced about 80% of chippings from various quarry sites along the Buoku-Nkonsia road. He noted, however, that the road is currently in poor condition.
He expressed concern that the 31km road will soon be completely damaged due to heavy duty trucks transporting stones and chippings on that stretch.
In convincing the Bono Regional Minister, Wenchi Manhene promised to gift him a cow if the 31km Buoku-Nkonsia road is reconstructed in Big Push Phase II initiative.
In his request, he appealed for expedited work on the Wenchi-Nsawkaw and the Wenchi-Offuman roads.
On inner roads, Osagyefo Ampem Anye requested the asphalting of the 2km Wenchi Hospital road, Kwaku Num road, the Wenchi-Akrobi ring road, and other deplorable roads in town.
Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III also appealed to the Bono Regional Minister and the NDC government to complete the Wenchi Water Supply project, which is currently at 92.5% completion.
According to the traditional ruler, when completed, the water supply project will serve several communities including Tromeso, Buoku, Asuofri, Anwene, Amponsakrom, Awisa, Subinso No.2, Yamin, Ahyeayem, Ayaayo, Ayewoya, and many other communities that are currently facing serious water crisis.
Touching on galamsey activities, Wenchi Manhene applauded the Bono Regional Minister for the galamsey clampdown. He, however, called for his inclusion in the issuance of mining leases to mining companies.
According to him, a purported document titled “Mining Lease” was dated January, but the letter was presented to him by the miners in the second week of June.
In a shocking revelation, the Wenchi Manhene disclosed that he was denied negotiations and his consent letter was not sought before the Minerals Commission granted a lease for a 25.3 to 75.5 acre land to a Chinese companies for quarry activities in Wenchi.
Notwithstanding, he vowed to prevent any company that attempts to mine illegally or evade proper negotiations in accordance with the Minerals Act, underscoring his commitment to protecting his community’s interests.
The Wenchi Manhene, told Lawyer Joseph Addae-Akwaboa, the minister that consulting him is key and appropriate in helping to identify sacred places that house gods and other areas he described as “no-go zones” because some places are reserved for ritual purposes.
He said he has consistently raised objections against illegal mining and pledged his full support to the Municipal Assembly and the Bono Regional Minister in the fight against illegal mining.
Osagyefo appealed to Wenchi MCE to support the completion of a community durbar project which has been stalled over decayed to bring honour and leave a legacy for herself and the NDC government.
Wenchi Manhene also called for recruitment opportunities for Wenchi youth into the security agencies and YEA, and for inclusion in the government’s apprenticeship programme to help curb the unemployment rate affecting his traditional area.
On his part, Wenchi Manhene assured the Traditional Council’s readiness in supporting youth in agriculture in his area.
He noted that he will provide lands for individuals who want to venture into poultry farming to support the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative to boost poultry production and create jobs.
Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari. Ark FM, Sunyani
