The grey hair they say is a sign of wisdom as an Akan adage indicates. But recent developments seem to be altering this saying or probably, there are exceptions or outliers to every rule or fact [adages = facts] which is being exhibited with the saying above.
The Constitution of Ghana, Article 276 forbids traditional authority — chiefs, queens etc to actively participate in partisan politics, but the past few elections and specifically the upcoming one seems to exempt the traditional authority from the rule this time round.
Many chiefs especially, have been seen endorsing candidates openly which is not supposed to be so. One may argue their recent deeds are mere strategies to secure development for their people.
If that’s the only means to get the politicians to work, why not amend the Constitution to legalise their actions, rather than be acting in ways which compromise their highly revered statuses as custodians of customs and compliance.
Yes, customs and tradition differ from the constitution but are not entirely parallel to each other since the constitution was crafted with the customs in perspective.
What is utterly surprising and mind boggling is how many traditional authorities have refused to spike politicians despite the broad day deception meted out to them all the time.
Chiefs hail politicians even when previous promises made to them have not been fulfilled. Some even espouse their perpetual loyalty to political parties despite the glaring underdevelopment in their polity, even when the parties they profess loyalty to have been serving in government.
Mamaga Nyabor VII alters the convention
Now, the essence of the introductory adage was warranted by a young Queen who got hundreds of people stunned with her utterances at a durbar which had high profile politicians present.
Her pronouncements have made many wonder if wisdom is synonymous only to the grey hair, and maturity, a by-product of longevity.
Paramount Queen of Akrofu Traditional area, Mamaga Akua Sebea Nyabor VII, altered what appears to be the convention at a durbar on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at Akrofu Hewiofe in the Ho Municipality.
She tasked government to be truthful to her words rather than the usual rhetorics that lacked action, typically of politicians.
As the Chairperson for the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Solid Waste Treatment Facility for the Volta Region, Mamaga Nyabor VII defied the odds and demanded government backs its words with action.
“This must not be a mere sod-cutting programme. It must materialise. You have given us four months. We promise to vote for you and we want you to promise us that you will do as you say,” the young Queen demanded from the Regional Minister, who represented President Akufo-Addo at the ceremony.
Read also: Volta Region takes share of Solid Waste Treatment Facility
The excellence utterances got many asking why she did not follow the usual praiseworthy of many traditional authority to politicians as has been the trend, but rather took a path that got everyone amassed.
Let alone, Mamaga asked that majority of the graduate youth in her traditional area be recognised when the project is completed, so that their acceptance to get the plant situated on their land worth their reward.
“We have artisans here who are good at what they do. Many of the youth here are graduates but unemployed. We want 70% of the jobs to be given to them when the project is completed,” she added.
The deplorable state of the roads in the traditional area was not left out when the Queen was asking the government to give them their word.
The strictness with which she respectfully relayed her demands and asked the leadership to make vows to fulfil their promises wowed many who thitherto thought wisdom was a preserve for only the aged.
Her comments followed a speech from President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivered on his behalf by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa at the function.
Volta Solid Waste Treatment Facility
Government’s agenda of making Ghana the cleanest city in Africa has seen a sod-cutting for the erection of similar edifices across all the regions, which are expected to be completed in four months time.
In his address, the President said the plant is being constructed to fight the unemployment rate in the region aside promoting good sanitation.
He had also promised to award the bad roads in the area for construction if the New Patriotic Party is retained after the December polls.
These promises, made, Mamaga secured the Regional Minister’s words as representative of the government to hold them by their words in fulfilling those campaign promises.
Also present at the function were the Chief Director of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Joseph Obeng Opoku; Municipal Chief Executive of Ho, Prosper Pi-Bansah, who is the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ho Central; Deputy Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Gloria Opoku Anti and a host of others.
In his response, Dr. Letsa, who was tasked to relay the information to President Akufo-Addo promised the Queen on his honour, to fulfil what she has demanded for her people.
The promises have been made, the honour and integrity have been put to test by the brilliance of the young Paramount Queen. What awaits us all is whether the politician will earn the title “Honourable” or demand it as it has been ostensibly.
