Government Alone Cannot Drive Development – Tikrom Chief Calls for Citizen Support
Traditional leaders in the Ashanti Region have been urged to take a leading role in transforming their communities by placing development at the heart of their leadership and working closely with citizens to achieve sustainable progress.
Making this call, Nana Oti Awere II, Chief of Tikrom in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, stressed that while government plays a critical role in national development, it cannot single-handedly meet the numerous needs of communities across the country. He therefore called on citizens, particularly natives of various towns and villages, to complement government efforts by supporting local development initiatives.
According to Nana Oti Awere II, the role of a chief in modern times goes beyond the preservation of culture and traditions, and must now be measured by the tangible impact made on the lives of the people. He cautioned traditional rulers against using their authority in ways that undermine their subjects, urging them instead to channel their influence towards projects and interventions that promote lasting development and social cohesion.
The Tikrom Chief noted that this development-driven approach to traditional leadership has been strongly championed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who continues to encourage chiefs within the Ashanti Kingdom to prioritise sustainable development as a means of improving livelihoods and strengthening 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,” Nana Oti Awere II stated. He added that leadership should be judged by the positive difference it makes in people’s lives, stressing that development remains the most enduring legacy any chief can leave behind.
Nana Oti Awere II 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 significant annual event in the community, aimed at supporting vulnerable families while fostering unity, love and togetherness during the festive season.
As part of this year’s celebration, the chief 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 households and reinforce the spirit of sharing and communal support, especially during Christmas. He reiterated his appeal to well-to-do individuals and indigenes of Tikrom living outside the community to support ongoing development efforts.
Beneficiaries who spoke in separate interviews expressed profound appreciation to Nana Oti Awere II for his continuous generosity and commitment to the welfare of the people. One beneficiary noted that the chief’s annual gesture 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 effort and shared responsibility would accelerate development and improve living standards in the community.
Nana Oti Awere II concluded by reiterating that sustainable development can only be achieved through a strong partnership between government, traditional authorities and citizens, calling on all Ghanaians to contribute their quota towards building stronger and more resilient communities.
