The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has urged traditional leaders across the country to play a more active role in advancing Ghana’s development agenda.

Speaking as the guest of honour at the silver jubilee celebration and Apayemkese festival of Prof. Okatakyi Amenfi VIII, Paramount Chief of the Asebu Traditional Area, the Okyenhene stressed that no government can deliver comprehensive national progress without strong collaboration from chiefs.

He reminded traditional rulers that their legacies will be defined not by their titles, but by the impact, leadership and transformation they inspire in their communities. He encouraged chiefs to prioritise education, calling it a critical driver of long-term development, and condemned environmental destruction from illegal mining. He urged stronger protection of Ghana’s natural resources.

The Okyenhene also appealed to the government to ensure fair distribution of development projects nationwide, cautioning that concentrating development in select regions risks widening inequalities.

For his part, Prof. Okatakyi Amenfi VIII called on the government to ban surface mining entirely, arguing that successive administrations have failed to control its damaging effects. He suggested the formation of mining consortia to undertake deep or underground mining as a more sustainable alternative.

Minister for Government Communications and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, assured traditional authorities that the government remains committed to improving local infrastructure. He revealed that several roads in the area have been captured in the 2026 budget and are scheduled for construction next year.