Lakeside Amakom Holds Annual Homecoming to Promote Community Development and Youth Values
Lakeside Amakom, a community in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, has successfully held its annual end-of-year homecoming celebration, bringing together natives, residents, and traditional leaders to deliberate on the development of the community and the moral wellbeing of its youth.
The event, which has become a key fixture on the community’s calendar, served as a platform to reconnect indigenes living outside the area with their roots while mobilising collective support for development initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and social cohesion in Lakeside Amakom.
Addressing the gathering, Nana Otiawere Frimpong Manso II, the Akokofe Krontihene, who represented the Akokofehene, Nana Osako Adu Panin II, emphasised the importance of positive values among the youth, describing them as the backbone of the community’s future. He urged young people to prioritise healthy and sincere relationships, warning that unstable and dishonest relationships often lead to emotional distress and other social problems.
According to him, there has been growing concern about premature deaths among young people in many communities, a situation he linked partly to unhealthy relationships and irresponsible lifestyles. He advised the youth to avoid entering or maintaining relationships without genuine commitment, stressing that respect, honesty, and discipline remain essential for personal growth and long life.
Nana Otiawere Frimpong Manso II also made a passionate appeal to the youth to stay away from drug abuse, describing it as a major threat to their health, education, and future prospects. He cautioned that substance abuse has long-term consequences that can derail the ambitions of young people and negatively affect families and communities. He further noted that since the human brain continues to develop into the mid-twenties, drug use during adolescence and early adulthood poses serious risks to sound decision-making and overall wellbeing.
He called on parents, guardians, and community leaders to work closely together to guide the youth and create a supportive environment that promotes discipline, hard work, and respect for societal values.
The Akokofe Krontihemaa, Nana Abena Boahemaa, along with other sub-chiefs of Akokofe, accompanied Nana Otiawere Frimpong Manso II, underscoring the collective commitment of the traditional authority to youth development and community progress.
Organisers of the homecoming explained that beyond celebration, the event was intentionally designed to refocus attention on development priorities, social responsibility, and the preservation of positive cultural values. They expressed optimism that the messages shared would inspire renewed commitment among residents and indigenes to contribute meaningfully to the growth and transformation of Lakeside Amakom.
The homecoming ended with a renewed sense of unity and purpose, as community members pledged to support initiatives that will enhance development while nurturing a responsible and value-driven generation for the future.
