He made this statement on Friday, February 21, in commemoration of the International Day of Mother Language.

Addressing Parliament, he urged all citizens to recognise the value of their native tongues and take proactive steps to safeguard them.

Mr. Yeboah highlighted the importance of community-driven efforts in language preservation, stressing that initiatives such as storytelling, oral history documentation, and intergenerational language transmission programmes must be actively promoted.

He encouraged schools, traditional authorities, and cultural institutions to collaborate in ensuring that local languages remain relevant in contemporary Ghanaian society.

“Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to lose our indigenous languages, for in them lies the heart and soul of our identity as Ghanaians,” he stated.

“Let us act now to protect and promote them, ensuring that future generations inherit not just the words, but the history, values, and wisdom they carry.”

He further called on policymakers to incorporate indigenous language education into the national curriculum and promote its usage in public and private sectors.

The MP also emphasised the need for media platforms to dedicate more airtime to local languages, ensuring that they remain widely spoken and appreciated.

He concluded by urging all Ghanaians to take pride in their linguistic heritage, noting that preserving mother languages is not merely about communication but about protecting a rich legacy of knowledge and identity.

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Whoever comes top in the race is crucial to residents, who have high expectations in the restoration of Kumasi’s accolade as the Garden City of West Africa.

Three persons shortlisted for the vetting, including former MCE for Obuasi, Richard Ofori Agyemang, former DCE for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Nana Asare Bediako and Martin Asamoah Atuahene.

Even before the vetting, some NDC supporters in the Atwima Nwabiagya District are rooting for Nana Asare Bediako.

Spokesperson for the group, Yusif Basit explains “the candidate has been instrumental in the party’s victory in the Ashanti Region. He has held the party together for about seven years, we can attest to his competence as well”.

The role of Nana Asare Bediako in NDC’s victory

As part of strategies for election 2024, the NDC divided the Ashanti Region into zones to ease campaigning and election monitoring.

Leadership of Zone Seven, included Nana Asare Bediako, with the task to supervise constituencies in the Atwima Nwabiagya enclave.

For the first time, the party won the Ahafo Ano South East Constituency which was under the Atwima and Ahafo Zone, where he served as Security Coordinator for the NDC campaign team.

According to the party supporters, Nana Bediako played a critical role in financing and resourcing of the party when the NDC was in opposition.

Mr. Yusif Basit, speaking on the candidate’s dedication emphasized “the aspirant donated a pick-up truck to the party. This vehicle for about eight years was used for all party events in this area. He even branded his private car with NDC colors and we also resorted to it sometimes”.

“He was on the grounds with us, we campaigned everywhere with him and went to all communities with him. He did a lot of party communications too”, he added.

Competence

To the party supporters, the candidate’s competence is not in doubt. According to them, as the District Chief Executive for the Atwima Nwabiagya District, their candidate ensured government policies were implemented.

They point to the execution of the Afari Military Hospital which is near completion as a project well executed.

Other projects include the proper organization of markets in the district when he served as Chief Executive.

“Beyond the DCE role he played, Nana Asare Bediako ensured the party was held together. He played every role that was given him and ensured these things were well executed. It should prove that he is competent for the role”, Mr. Basit emphasized.

Regard for Traditional Authority

Though the traditional authority has never shown public support for any appointee, it is believed the political parties always seek the nod for key nominees in the Ashanti region.

Due to the respect for culture and tradition, persons appointed for key roles in the region are expected to have respect for the authority.

To the party people, Nana Asare Bediako has demonstrated regard for the traditional authority serving chiefs in the Atwima Nwabiagya enclave.

Kumasi’s challenges

The slow pace of development in the Kumasi Metropolis remains a worry to indigenes of the Ashanti region.

Aside from delays in the completion of developmental projects, the Central Business District continues to struggle with filth and congestion.

Successive metropolitan chief executives have failed to deal with poor handling of refuse at the CBD and other trade hubs.

Though various strategies were adopted by past administrators, the investment is yet to be reflected in the city.

Congestion at Adum and other areas of the CBD will be a huge task for Mr. Sam Pyne’s successor.

A gradual decongestion of vehicles operating within the congested areas failed after tricycles were banned from the CBD.

Traders continue to take over pavements and streets, limiting space for pedestrians to go about their activities.

The second phase of the Kejetia Market has also progressed slowly despite assurances to be completed in time.

Five cocoa-growing communities will be affected when the firm, MIGOP Mining Limited begins full operations after carrying out the ongoing exploration.

The farms are part of the newly rehabilitated cocoa farms, an intervention by the Ghana Cocoa Board after an outbreak of Cocoa Swollen Shot Virus Disease in the communities.

Just as this intervention by the COCOBOD was beginning to yield some fruits, the mining firm which insists it has a permit from the Minerals Commission has started exploration and threatening the farms.

Cocoa communities to be affected by mining operations include, Apuoyem, Brahebebome, Brosanko, Ouagadougou and Nkotonmire.

The monetary value of cocoa produced by these communities according to the Ghana COCOBOD is over GH¢316, 000.

Head of anti-illegal mining Units at COCOBOD, Professor Michael Kwarteng laments the impact and threats of activities of the mining firm on Cocoa production in the affected communities.

“Yesterday I received a call from the executive director of the cocoa health and extension division that there is this mining company, MIGOP Mining Limited. They’ve come to this our cocoa district. To them, they’ve been given license to do prospecting and they’ve destroyed a lot of our cocoa farms. Farmers have been preventing them but they are using security personnel to intimidate them and then going ahead with their activities. So when I received this I said no, I can’t sit down for even a day.

“Looking at what is happening, the evidence is there. They’ve destroyed some of the cocoa farms. COCOBOD we are not aware of what is going on. I always say whenever you are securing any concession, you have to contact the regulator of that production, being cocoa, or whatever.

“Meanwhile, when you go to the minerals commission, the Mining Acts 703 sections 18(1)(2), it tells you that mining companies are supposed to contact bodies that regulate that farm. So they are violating that aspect of their own law. So, mining companies are taking advantage of this and are destroying our farms everywhere,” he stated.

On March 18, 2024, MIGOP Mining Limited wrote to the Ghana Cocoa Board about the exploration activities it was carrying out in the affected communities.

Although the Mining Firm admits it has destroyed some cocoa farms in the exploration activities, it maintains it has permission from the Minerals Commission to carry out the exercise in the area.

Community Relations Officer for MIGOP Mining Limited, Richard Gyasi said some affected farmers have been duly compensated.

“We are only doing exploration so we are not destroying any crop. Even though at least one or two crops have been affected we are using the government rate to pay them. For now, we are in the exploration stage, we will now move to the development stage before we start the mining. So, we are not destroying crops as it has been portrayed,” he stated.

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