Queen Mother commends Government, Asantehene, for road improvement

Essiasi-Kokofu, Sept. 9, GNA - Nana Serwaa Nkrante I, Queen Mother of Essiasi near Kokofu in the Ashanti Region, has commended the government, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Kokofuhene Barima Offe kwasi Okogyeasuo II, for the various roles they have played in getting the hitherto deplorable road from Kokofu through Essiasi to Enweren tarred.

"We Essiasiman never taught we shall one day have such a first class road facility that has brought about free and easy movement of people, goods and services, and we are most grateful," she said. Nana Nkrante who was speaking to the GNA at her residence ahead of the celebration of the traditional Opemsuo festival added, "the road improvement efforts of the government did not end there. Now work is progressing on Bekwai-Amoafo through Asiwa to Bomfa junction to link the Kumasi-Accra highway".

Touching on youth development the Queen Mother observed that the re-introduction of puberty rites was one of the surest ways to check teenage pregnancies and other immoral behaviour that had eaten deep into the Ghanaian society.

Nana Nkrante bemoaned the rate at which most young people had developed inordinate interest in casual sex, and said the result had been the prevalence of numerous sex-related diseases in the society. "It is important as a young girl to live a pure life that will help make you to grow into a unique and responsible woman", she said, adding that the forthcoming Opensuo festival has a number of lessons to be learnt by the youth to enable them to appreciate the value of a disciplined life.

The Queenmother who doubled as the chief of the town, took a swipe at the upsurge in wee-smoking and drug addiction by most youth and said the time had come for young men and ladies to embrace the teachings of Jesus Christ. "The youths should allow God to direct their ways if they were to grow to become responsible adults and assets to the nation", she said. Nana Nkrante who has been Queen Mother since 1978, indicated that promiscuity was not the best way to develop into a responsible youth as all sorts of anti-social vices that hinder socio-economic development could be attributed to such social vices. She pointed out that the youth had a role to play in the development of the nation, as well as their respective communities, and therefore called on them to do away with all acts that impact negatively on their abilities and strengths.