Chiefs Must Champion Sustainable Development – Tikrom Chief Echoes Otumfuo’s Vision
Traditional leaders in the Ashanti Region have been urged to place sustainable development at the core of their leadership and to use their authority to drive positive change within their communities.
Making this call, Nana Oti Awere II, Chief of Tikrom in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, stressed that the relevance of chieftaincy in modern times should be measured by the level of development and improvement in the lives of the people. He cautioned chiefs against using their influence in ways that undermine their subjects, urging them instead to channel their power towards initiatives that promote lasting progress and unity.
According to Nana Oti Awere II, the development-focused role of traditional leaders has been strongly championed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who continues to encourage chiefs across the Ashanti Kingdom to prioritise sustainable development as a means of uplifting their communities.
“In these modern times, the main purpose of a chief is to seek development for his community, as championed by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,” the Tikrom Chief stated. He added that leadership should be judged by the tangible impact it has on the lives of the people, noting that development remains the most enduring legacy any traditional ruler can leave behind.
The chief made these remarks during his annual Christmas donation exercise for the people of Tikrom, an initiative he has consistently undertaken for the past seven years. The exercise has become a key event on the community’s calendar, aimed at supporting vulnerable households and strengthening social bonds during the festive season.
As part of this year’s celebration, Nana Oti Awere II distributed assorted food items to thousands of residents, including children, to enable them to celebrate Christmas in joy and dignity. The items included bags of rice, cooking oil, soft drinks, biscuits, sardines, mackerel, chicken and other essential food supplies.
According to the chief, the donation was intended to ease the burden on vulnerable families while promoting unity, love and togetherness during the Christmas period. He further called on well-to-do individuals and indigenes of Tikrom living both home and abroad to support ongoing development initiatives in the community.
Beneficiaries who spoke in separate interviews expressed deep appreciation to Nana Oti Awere II for his continuous generosity and dedication to the welfare of the people of Tikrom. One beneficiary noted that the chief’s annual support has consistently brought relief and happiness to many families during the festive season.
The beneficiaries also appealed to other citizens and philanthropists from Tikrom to rally behind the chief’s development agenda, stressing that collective support and shared responsibility would accelerate development and significantly improve living standards in the community.
Nana Oti Awere II reiterated that sustainable development can only be achieved through strong collaboration among traditional authorities, government and citizens, calling on all stakeholders to work together to build prosperous and resilient communities.
