PARENTS IN MINING COMMUNITIES URGES TO PRIORITIZES CHILDREN’S EDUCATION TO SECURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Barima Pobi Asomaning III, Chief of Kyebi Akwadum community in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council of the Eastern Region, has Laments  over the alarming disregard for education among parents in mining communities nationwide.

He expressed worry utterly disheartening to see that many parents in these areas do not prioritize their children’s education, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and danger in the mining sector from a very young age.

He made these remarks while addressing a gathering of parents, students, and community members, following the first Ohumkan Fest ceremony held at Kyebi Akwadum community.

The Ohumkan Festival, a momentous annual celebration marking the arrival of the new yam harvest, was observed in grand style by the chief, elders, and people of Kyebi Akwadum community.

The feast held special significance, comes after a two-week ban on noise-making and serving as a poignant testament to the community’s resilience during its prolonged period without a chief.

The momentous occasion, aimed at honoring the community’s ancestors and seeking divine blessings and however, also served as a platform to foster unity, promote communal support, and empower brilliant yet underprivileged students in the community.

During the celebration, a diverse gathering of visitors, including esteemed guests, family members, friends, loved ones, stakeholders, government officials, parents, and students, converged to pay homage to the chief as he sat majestically on his throne and at the heart of the ceremony, the chief offered a sincere and heartfelt expression of gratitude to God, the gods, and ancestors, acknowledging their unwavering protection and provision.

In accordance with tradition, the divisional Chiefs and Queen Mothers present firewood to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, during the Ohum Kan feast celebrations.

Similarly, during the Kyebi Akwadum Ohum Kan feast schoolchildren in the community gifted firewood to the chief of Kyebi Akwadum, Barima Pobi Asomaning III, and received a token of appreciation in return.

However, upon interacting and taking stock with the schoolchildren, Barima Pobi Asomaning III was dismayed to notice that many of their uniforms were tattered and worn out.

Moved by their plight, he generously donated a cheque of Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis to the headteachers, instructing them to use the funds to provide new uniforms for the students.

Furthermore, Barima Pobi Asomaning III,  adopted the top three performing students from the community’s Basic Schools, committing to sponsor their education through to the tertiary level.

 Addressing the gathering, Barima Pobi Asomaning III, Chief of Kyebi Akwadum in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, used the opportunity to advised the urgent need for parents to recognize the value of education in securing a brighter future for their children, and to take proactive steps to ensure they receive the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

He underscores that  education plays critical role in shaping the future of children in mining communities, adding prioritizing education, parents can empower their children to create positive change and improve their socio-economic circumstances.

According to Chief Asomaning, poverty and hardship are the primary challenges faced by parents in mining communities, forcing them to compromise their children’s education by allowing them to engage in mining activities instead of attending school.

He nostalgically reflected on a past era when parents, deeply committed to the value of education, would make considerable sacrifices, such as selling personal belongings or engaging in farming, to raise funds and support their children’s educational pursuits, ultimately empowering them to become the family’s future breadwinners.

Speaking to a cross-section of the media, Barima Pobi Asomaning III, Chief of Kyebi Akwadum and Leader of the Okyeman Environment Protection Brigade Taskforce, reaffirmed his commitment to combating and regulating illegal mining activities, with a focus on protecting water bodies, lands, and forests.

According to him, their efforts have yielded significant results, with approximately 60% success in combating illegal mining activities, resulting in the restoration of river bodies and reclamation of land in the mining areas.

Barima Pobi Asomaning III appealed to the government to provide support to traditional leaders in their fight against galamsey activities, emphasizing the need for collective action to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future.

Barima Pobi Asomaning III, Chief of Kyebi Akwadum, has advocated for the full involvement of traditional rulers when giving concession to miners in mining communities in the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

He established that chiefs can pinpoint these individuals without fear of retribution, facilitating their apprehension and prosecution, adding that engaging traditional rulers in the fight against galamsey, the government can leverage their influence and authority to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal mining and mobilize community support for anti-galamsey efforts.

He cautioned that any measures taken without their involvement would be ineffective and however urging President John Dramani Mahama to collaborate with traditional rulers in the fight against galamsey, particularly when giving concession any miners across the country, stressing that their collective efforts are essential to protecting the country’s polluted water bodies and preserving its lands for future generations.

Chief Barima Pobi Asomaning III called onto citizens of Kyebi Akwadum, both at home and abroad, to reconnect with their roots and join forces to propel the development of their community. He emphasized the importance of unity, respect, love, and dignity in achieving this goal.

Specifically, he invited all to participate in the upcoming 1-year anniversary celebration of his throne, which will feature a homecoming event which presents a unique opportunity for citizens to come together and contribute to the community’s growth.

He further appealed to NGOs, philanthropists, stakeholders, and government organizations to support the Akwadum Community Development Project. This initiative encompasses various critical infrastructure, including market squares, event centers, schools and key aspect of the project is the creation of educational resources for brilliant yet underprivileged children in Akwadum, Kyebi, and throughout Ghana, adding that supporting this project, individuals and organizations can help empower the next generation and contribute to the community’s prosperity.

Derrick Tia Amewuga, Headteacher of Kyebi Akwadum R/C Primary School, expressed deep worry about the lack of parental support for children in the community, adding that many students stay out late in the town, often arriving at school as late as 9:00 in the morning.

Mr. Amewuga appealed to the Chief of Kyebi Akwadum to implement measures to address this issue, emphasizing the need for a safe and supportive environment for children.

He also highlighted the school’s poor performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) over the past years, achieving a dismal 0% pass rate.

He underscores that despite the teachers’ best efforts, he attributed this failure to the pervasive illegal mining activities in the area, which distracted students and even prevented some BECE candidates from participating in the examination.

Mr. Amewuga stressed the urgent need for stakeholders in education to join forces and protect the future of the school children, as education is the key to unlocking their potential. He also appealed to parents to take proactive responsibility for their children’s well-being, emphasizing that investing in their education would ultimately benefit the parents in their old age.

He therefore expressed his gratitude to the Chief of Kyebi Akwadum, Barima Pobi Asomaning III, for his kind ongoing support to the school, which he believes will continue to strengthen teaching and learning in the community.

Script/source by

Paul Manyo,

Eastern Regional Correspondent,

Net2tv.