The Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu III, has cautioned against illegal mining and improper sand winning at Mampong Akrofonso, warning that the community’s lands and water bodies must be protected for sustainable development.
He said the lands around Mampong Akrofonso should be used for productive investments that create jobs and improve livelihoods, rather than activities that degrade the environment and threaten the community’s water resources.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu III gave the warning during a three-day visit to Mampong Akrofonso over the weekend to perform traditional rites required of every Asante Mampong paramount chief.
The visit forms part of a long-standing tradition in which every Omanhene of Asante Mampong must return to the ancestral town to perform spiritual rituals to affirm and consolidate his kingship.
Following his confirmation as Mamponghene, as directed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Daasebre Osei Bonsu III travelled to the town to fulfil the customary obligation.
Addressing the people, the Mamponghene said he was committed to reorganising the community and advancing the welfare of its residents, particularly the youth.
He assured them that Mampong Akrofonso would not be left out of development initiatives in Asante Mampong.
He also entrusted the affairs of the community to the Mampong Akrofonsohene, Nana Baffour Gyimah Ankoana, urging him to identify suitable land for the establishment of handicraft enterprises to provide employment opportunities for young people.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu III emphasised that protecting the environment must be central to the community’s development agenda, stressing the need to safeguard water bodies from pollution and preserve them for future generations.
The Mampong Akrofonsohene, Nana Baffour Gyimah Ankoana, said the visit demonstrated the paramount chief’s commitment to fulfilling the traditional responsibilities required to strengthen his reign.
He explained that Mampong Akrofonso had available land that could be allocated to credible investors interested in establishing schools, hospitals, police stations and factories.
According to him, such investments would expand economic opportunities, create jobs and support the development of the community.
Nana Baffour Gyimah Ankoana maintained that the youth of Mampong Akrofonso had the potential to contribute meaningfully to development if given the necessary opportunities and support.
He appealed to Daasebre Osei Bonsu III to provide guidance and assistance as he carried out his responsibilities as chief.
The call for responsible land use and environmental protection reinforces the need for communities to balance economic development with the preservation of natural resources, particularly water bodies that sustain livelihoods and public health.