By Dennis Peprah
Odomase Number One, (B/R), Nov. 23, GNA – Odomfour Dr Kwasi Apraku III, the Paramount Chief of the Odomase Number One Traditional Area in the Bono Region has unveiled the ‘Odomaseman Development Fund’ to push the holistic development of the area.
According to the chief, a US-based medical practitioner, the fund was purposely set to build the ‘Odom enclave’ a community of a shopping mall, telemedicine center, banquet hall, recreational center, employable skill training and ICT center and a community library.
Addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the area at Odomase Number One in the Sunyani West Municipality, Odomfour Apraku III appealed to wealthy natives of the town, home and abroad to contribute to the fund.
He expressed worry that the Odomase Township and its adjoining communities lagged behind hence the need for the people to augment government efforts in bringing the development of the area to the next level.
Odomfour Apraku said plans were advanced to set up an educational endowment fund to support needy, but brilliant students to pursue high academic laurels and contribute meaningfully to the development of the area.
He indicated that the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of improving infrastructure development, saying it was therefore imperative for the people to revive their communal labour spirit and undertake self-initiate projects and programmes.
That, he added, would greatly attract the attention of NGOs and other development partners and to facilitate the development of the local communities.
Odomfour Apraku III indicated that it was the responsibility of chiefs and queens to mobilise their subjects and the people to develop the local communities and urged his sub-chiefs to prioritise that and serve the people in humility.
“Holistic development of our local communities must be our priority,” he told the chiefs and queen of the area and called on the people to also support them in that regard.
The Paramount Chief recollected the history of the Odomase people and urged them to uphold and defend their history and tradition, saying that reflected the true identity of the people.
Describing the paramount chief’s passion for development as exceptional, Nana Yaa Adanse Poduo II, the Paramount Queen-mother of the Area, urged the people to support Odomfour Apraku II and the Traditional Council to facilitate the development of the communities.
She said she was optimistic that the people would bury all differences and backgrounds and channel their exuberances and resources into productive activities that would improve the lives of the people.
Nana Poduo II urged the sub-queens in the area to also focus on building a better life for the girls by channelling much of their resources into girl-child education and contributing to ending growing teenage pregnancies and single parenting in the local communities.
Barimah Mintah Afari, the Benkumhene (sub-chief) of the Dormaa Traditional Area and the Chief of Chiraa, also commended the chiefs and people of the area for their spirit of unity which was translating into the development of the traditional area.
GNA