Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin says the recent flooding in Accra must serve as a wake-up call for Ghanaians to change their attitude towards the environment.
According to him, although there are genuine planning gaps and inadequate disaster prevention measures, human attitudes towards the environment remain a fundamental challenge to safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
He noted that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters, rivers and other unauthorised places, building on waterways, choked drains and rivers, as well as other environmentally harmful human activities, are major contributors to flooding and environmental degradation.
Speaking at the 2026 Kyebi Ohum Festival, held over the weekend in Kyebi under the theme, “Rejuvenating Our Customs for Sustainability and Nature’s Connection,” the Okyenhene called on Ghanaians to reconnect with nature and adopt responsible environmental practices.
“Nature is such that it will treat you proportionally to the very level of treatment you give to it. If we treat nature very nicely, it shall treat us nicely,” the Okyenhene said.
“Our customs frown upon littering indiscriminately in towns, rivers and other water bodies. It was even taboo for people to visit some rivers on specific days of the week or during certain periods. But what are we seeing today? Because of indiscipline, people are devastating the environment with impunity, and you think nature will not respond? We need to change our attitude towards the environment,” Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin stated.
He also expressed concern over the increasing abuse of drugs and other substances in the country, calling for the strict enforcement of laws regulating the sale of alcohol and tobacco products.
The Okyenhene directed the Ghana Police Service and the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to arrest and prosecute drinking bar owners and other vendors who sell alcohol to children below the age of 18.
“Today, children mix all kinds of substances with alcohol. The intake of tramadol and other drugs has even worsened the situation. These young boys, after consuming all these substances, end up robbing people and stealing. If we don’t stop this, the future of the next generation will be very bleak,” he added.
He called for a nationwide crackdown on the menace, stressing the need for strict adherence to the laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to persons under the age of 18.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin also urged Ghanaian contractors to prioritise the safety and welfare of citizens.
“The Minister for Roads was seen in a viral video lamenting how some contractors have taken huge sums of money from the government as mobilisation fees for road construction but have abandoned the projects. How do we treat ourselves in such a manner? Today, the Ofankor–Nsawam Road has become an albatross around our neck. If you drive on the road a few times, you will either have to service your vehicle or bear the consequences,” he said.
The Okyenhene further advised the government and its officials to avoid interfering in chieftaincy matters, saying such actions undermine the autonomy of the chieftaincy institution.
“You came here to seek installation as a chief, and we honoured you. If you want to break away, you may do so, but remember that you will be on your own. Be assured that nobody conquered Okyeman, and nobody can conquer Okyeman. Never. It will not happen. You can leave, but our territories will not be altered. Not even an inch of our territory will be given away,” he said, commenting on the Etwereso issue.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, commended Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin for his bold leadership and assured him of the government’s support.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in agriculture and appealed to the Okyenhene to work with traditional leaders to make more land available for agricultural development.
“The Akyem lands are fertile for oil palm plantations. The government is interested in investing resources into oil palm cultivation in Akyem Abuakwa to create jobs for our youth and increase production for both the local and export markets,” Julius Debrah stated.
The 2026 Kyebi Ohum Festival was colourful and well attended, bringing together notable political figures from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as other government officials.
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