You’ve failed people of Western Region – Matilda Amissah Arthur rebukes politicians, chiefs

The Western Region’s political and traditional leaders have been criticized by the former second lady, Matilda Amissah Arthur, for the lack of progress in the area.

She was addressing the crowd at Busua’s opening of the Western Regional Development Forum, which was put on by the Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Trust.

Madam Amissah Arthur, a native of the Nzema region, questioned why both traditional and political leaders had let the community down.

“We have all known for a long time that our region has been neglected, helpless and that we have no legacy. But my question is, has it taken us so long to come together and deliberate on how we can change this narrative?

“Yes! We might have met in our pockets to talk about this issue before, but have we met as a serious group to deliberate? Are we happy to let the region deteriorate? Is there something that is preventing us, or are we in denial? Whatever it is, we have let our people down,” she said.

Amissah Matilda Arthur went on to say that the people might perceive the region’s current lack of development as a sign that its officials are not taking their jobs seriously.

“The chiefs, clergy, civil society, the media, we have all given the people of Western Region reason not to take us seriously or trust us. Where have you been as chiefs? Where have you been when all the lands are being taken over by galamsey?

“Some say that you have sold our land. Some say that you have fronted for big men in Ghana and from abroad and that some even say that you have been given huge sums of money, even though I don’t see in on,” she opined.

The former second lady suggested that the only way to guarantee that the Western Region receives what it deserves as the primary producer of Ghana’s minerals, cash crops, and other goods is for the populace and leadership to move forward in a Busua Consensus.

The Nana Kobina Nketsia IV Trust organized the Western Regional Development Forum, a week-long event that brought together stakeholders from the Western Region, including chiefs, technocrats, civil society, political functionaries, youth leaders, priests, governmental representatives, and security officials, among others, to discuss the development of the Western Region.