Josiah
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin is advocating for a law that would freeze the salaries of parents who abandon their children and neglect their parental responsibilities. He proposes that the state should use the frozen salaries to fund the education and upkeep of these children.
According to Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, implementing such a law would encourage responsible parenting and help reduce streetism and related issues. Speaking at the 2024 Ohum Kan Festival durbar in Kyebi, he expressed concern over parents who neglect their children after birth.
“You give birth in your community and abscond to a different town to work without providing for your children. That is irresponsible. The state should be able to freeze your salary or whatever you earn and use it to take care of the child. You will work, but your salary will go to the children you have deserted,” Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin stated.
He called on parents to be responsible and ensure the welfare and safety of their children to create a safer and more peaceful community. He warned that neglected children might grow up to pose challenges to society.
Addressing issues of patriotism and responsibility, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin highlighted reports of some teaching and non-teaching staff at various Senior High Schools sabotaging the Free SHS policy by stealing food items meant for students. He emphasized the need to name and shame such individuals.
“The State is struggling to ensure that every Ghanaian child gets some basic education for free. You steal food items meant for these innocent children, create a shortage of food in the schools, and then you have the guts to video the food being served and mock its quality. Have you forgotten you stole the stuff? You don’t have shame?” Osagyefuo questioned.
He urged Ghanaians to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and love for the country. Osagyefuo also admonished the youth to avoid drug abuse, mentioning the harmful effects of substances like tramadol.
“The nation needs you,” he said, urging the police to aggressively pursue and prosecute drug pushers due to their detrimental impact on the youth and the community.
This year’s Ohum festival coincides with Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s 25th anniversary of ascending the Ofori Panin Stool. The Ohum festival reflects the core Akan belief in the unity of life among the dead, the living, and the yet unborn. It emphasizes balance, moderation, and regeneration, contributing to ecological integrity as essential for sustaining humanity.
The two-week observance of no drumming and no digging of the earth provides a period for deep reflection on past challenges, present conditions, and future plans. Symbolically, it is marked by the regeneration of the Mmerekensono tree at the banks of the Birim River, symbolizing the unity of life and ecological harmony.
