By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
President Akufo-Addo has reiterated the necessity for our traditional leaders to take the lead in safeguarding our environment. He said they must use their influence to discourage illegal mining activities and serve as advocates for sustainable and responsible mining practices within their jurisdictions.
The President made the call in an address read for him by the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, at the climax of the 2023 Dumba Festival of the chiefs and people of the Waala Traditional Area in Wa.
.The occasion, which was marked with pomp and glitter, focused on “The Fight Against Illegal Mining: The Role of Traditional Authorities”.
The Jinpenhi Naa, Naa lbrahim Kadri, who delivered Wa Naa, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo’s address, indicated that the celebration of Dumba has gone beyond drumming and dancing.
He noted: “As home-coming events, they [festivals] also give the traditional authorities the opportunity not only to interact with their people but also to brief them on the happenings within their traditional areas during the previous year. Through these interactions, natives who are not home-based get to know their home and its development needs. Some of them have, personally or through others, initiated interventions beneficial to the traditional area. The celebrations are also appropriate platforms to make appeals to the important guests invited to intervene in specific areas of socio-economic development”.
Naa Kadri commended the security agencies for their efforts in stemming the series of murders that took place two years ago and also made some requests to the President.
The requests included the construction of the bridge between Sawla and Bole and the general rehabilitation of the Wa-Bamboi road, which is currently in a very sorry state of disrepair; the rehabilitation and tarring of the Wa-Logu road, as well as the completion of works on the Wa-Bulengaq road; as well as a hostel for the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University.
Mr Ambrose Dery observed that Dumba “is a testament of the rich cultural heritage of the Waala Traditional Area, serves as an opportunity to address critical issues affecting the Upper West and the nation in general, and underscores the importance of festivals.
“The importance of traditional festivals in contemporary era cannot be overemphasised. Our rich cultural heritage is fast losing its position due to the influence of foreign cultures on our youth. Therefore, traditional festivals such as this are vehicles through which the cultural heritage of a people can be transmitted to upcoming generations,” Mr Dery averred.
He also added that, apart from environmental concerns, illegal mining has led to social and security challenges in our communities.
President Akufo-Addo donated ₵50,000 in support of Dumba while the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin gave ₵20,000 with Mr Ambrose Dery topping it up with ₵10,000. The Paramount Chief of Pulima, Kuoro Osman Nankpa chaired the durbar to climax the festival.
