Okaishie Mantse Calls For Clean Environment, Unity And Respect for Chieftaincy After Homowo Celebration

The Okaishie Mantse, Nii Tetteh Addy Obaklante II, has called on chiefs, elders and residents to maintain clean environments, uphold traditional customs and work together to promote peace and development in Okaishie, following this year’s Homowo celebration.

The annual Homowo festival brought chiefs, elders, leaders and residents together, with people travelling from near and far to join the people of Okaishie in celebrating the festival.

Speaking to the media after the celebration, Nii Tetteh Addy Obaklante II extended his greetings to the people of Okaishie and fellow traditional leaders. He stressed the importance of sanitation and urged chiefs and residents to take responsibility for keeping their communities clean.

He said a clean environment helps prevent the spread of diseases and noted that traditional leaders have a responsibility to ensure that things are properly managed in their communities.

According to the Okaishie Mantse, in the past, chiefs personally came out with their people to participate in communal cleaning exercises, but the practice has changed.

He also referred to President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in clean-up exercises, saying it demonstrates the importance of keeping communities clean. He therefore called on chiefs to take an active role in sanitation within their respective communities.

Nii Tetteh Addy Obaklante II also raised concerns about what he described as attempts by some individuals to assume chieftaincy positions without being the rightful persons.

He called on anyone who is not legitimately entitled to a traditional leadership position to desist from such actions, saying such situations could create confusion and conflict.

The chief urged traditional leaders and residents to follow the customs and rules established by their ancestors, which he said helped maintain peace in Okaishie.

According to him, abandoning those traditional principles could undermine the peace and progress achieved by previous generations.

He further called on chiefs and elders to work together to address issues affecting Okaishie and promote development in the area.

The Okaishie Mantse also spoke about the relationship between the traditional authorities and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

He said previous Accra Mayors had worked with the chiefs and elders of Okaishie and noted that the area contributes to revenue generated by the Assembly.

Nii Tetteh Addy Obaklante II said that, in previous years, the Assembly had supported the chiefs and elders with items and financial assistance towards the celebration of Homowo.

However, he expressed disappointment that despite attempts to contact the current Accra Mayor ahead of this year’s celebration, they did not receive a response.

He also said that since he became chief, previous Mayors had joined the people of Okaishie to celebrate Homowo, but the current Mayor did not attend this year’s celebration.

Despite the absence of the Mayor, the chief said the people went ahead with their Homowo celebration.

Nii Tetteh Addy Obaklante II also emphasized the importance of protecting the name and identity of Okaishie.

He said the name Okaishie is well known, including outside Ghana, and urged the people, chiefs and elders to work together to protect the reputation, peace and development of the community.