The Agona Duakwahene and Krontihene of Nyakrom Traditional Area, Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) has expressed displeasure with the way the government is handling the damning effects of galamsey on the livelihood of Ghanaians and the people of Duakwa.
At the recent durbar in Agona Duakwa for the Akwambo Festival, Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) charged the Mahama-led-government to act immediately on the galamsey menace which has affected the flow of portable drinking water for his people.
“Our biggest problem in recent times is water. The Kwanyarko water treatment plant which has been our source of drinking water has been shut down. But let me thank DCE for sending tanks of water to us a few weeks ago”.
However, I am sure they understand that is not enough. I hear plans are underway to dig boreholes for the community, we appreciate that! But I want the government to know that our sustenance is not dependent on water tanks. We have survived all these years drinking portable water from Kwanyarko”, Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) said in the presence of the DCE, Mr. Samuel Oscar Mensah for Agona East.
For years now, both local and international civil society organisations have been warning that Ghana may start to import drinking water by 2030, 5 years away from now.
Apparently, some areas in Ghana have begun seeing the effects of galamsey now and there have been reports of lead and mercury poisoning in vegetables and food crops in galamsey areas, like in Akwatia.
“I want the government to work on what has forced the closure of the Kwanyarko dam. Galamsey! We have spoken against galamsey for years and it seems Ghanaians are taking it for granted. We were told years back that if care is not taken we would import drinking water into the country, and this is where we are today!” the Chief added.
Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) stressed that “There is no place in Agona Nyarkrom Traditional Area where there is galamsey. We have made our stance clear that there will be no form of mining here. There is gold on our land, all around us, and people shouldn’t think we don’t have an appetite for money. But we will not allow anyone to mine her to destroy our lands”.
The Kwanyarko water dam takes its source from the Ayensu River, which starts from somewhere in Apapem in Suhum and the Chief added “ they are digging for gold and making their money while we are suffering. Therefore, DCE inform the MP that this is our biggest concern”.
Despite the many challenges confronting the area which includes roads, Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) insists water tops all for his community.
“At this point our roads are not a priority anymore, but our water means a lot to us. We all know water is life! Work on it! Today we hear this, tomorrow it is that, and the next time it is something else. What should we hold on to? Please stop making our work difficult” Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) pleaded
Akwambo Festival, the Youth, and Development
Akwambo Festival is celebrated annually to call back home all travellers, bring together families, and well wishers to raise funds for development. The theme for the 2025 Agona Duakwa Festival reflected the need to focus on the youth: “Uniting the Youth for Community Development”.
To this end, the Agona Duakwa Traditional area has set its sights on building a community centre for the people which would attract development for the people. The Community Centre will house a guesthouse, library, a conference hall and other facilities for the good of the people of Agona Duakwa.
In an interview with the Youth Chief of Agona Duakwa, Brantihene Nana Kwame Kotin, who has been a Chief for a year, expressed hope for the youth of Duakwa despite the many challenges facing them, “The challenges facing the youth is a national problem when we talk about drug abuse, school drop-outs, unemployment and the others, it is not peculiar to just Duakwa”
Brantihene Nana Kwame Kotin added ”My aim is to help reduce the abuse of drugs amongst the youth, get more youth to acquire skills to make a living. We want more youth to take their schooling seriously. Let me use this opportunity to call on all organisations and leaders to support education in Duakwa, especially those whose ancestry hails from here. Sanitation is another problem we have to look at”.
“Agriculture is a good place for most youth to get into and there are lots of job opportunities there as the government is looking to explore other avenues to help Agona Duakwa. I pray and hope that the youth will come together strongly not only for Agona Duakwa but for the country as a whole”
Guest speaker of the durbar, Prof. Kassim Issau, Associate Professor and Senior Member at the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management: University of Cape Coast stress on the need for the youth to play a crucial in the development of their community with their potential:
“The youth represent the most dynamic and resourceful segment of any society. As the future leaders, innovators, and workforce, their participation in community development is not only beneficial but essential. Community development thrives when young people are recognised as active partners rather than passive beneficiaries”.
Chairman of the Durbar, Daniel Kofi Yawson, who is a philanthropist and the founder of DY Foundation touched on the importance of you but stressed mainly on being accountable for their behavior and also holding the leadership accountable, in a separate interview.
“If we the youth speak the truth to the government and we stand by our rights, things will be done right for us. So I believe that for the youth, we are the future and we are the hope for the next generation. We are not lost and it is all about togetherness and fostering one mind to move the country forward”.
Mr. Kofi Yawson pleaded with the leadership of the traditional area to use the funds raised for its intended purpose; “I plead with them that the money we have raised at the durbar must be used for something beneficial to motivate those who pledged. That way donors can give more in subsequent engagements. We want to finish this project and move to another one soon”
“The community centre has been our priority for years and at every Akambo Festival, we try to fulfill the target we have set for ourselves. I want to thank you all and for those who have come and for your great support. I believe we have raised a good amount of funds to push our project further” Nana Kojo Amuakwa (V) acknowledged.
